Comments on: Palila: From Hatch to Wild Home http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2009/04/13/palila-from-hatch-to-wild-home/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:40:24 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Richard Switzer http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2009/04/13/palila-from-hatch-to-wild-home/comment-page-1/#comment-442570 Richard Switzer Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:38:45 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/?p=4114#comment-442570 Hi Nancy. Many thanks for your response. Introduced, feral ungulates are a major problem for native forest, since these plants originally evolved in the absence of large grazers. The state government of Hawaii has a juggling act, in which they allocate land for continued hunting (but not eradication) of these ungulates, which often competes with the management of land for the conservation of endangered species such as the palila. We do have audio recordings of the palila (as well as all other species) which we play to hatching eggs to encourage the chicks to emerge, and also to the hand-reared chicks to enable them to learn and identify with the vocalizations of their own species. The nene (Hawaiian goose) is still treading the slow path to recovery, with a population now estimated at between 2,000 to 3,000 birds. On the island of Kauai, the recovery has been particularly successful - probably as a result of being the only major Hawaiian island which has not suffered the introduction of the mongoose. The Maui Bird Conservation Center has produced many nene for release over the years. At the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center on the Big Island, wild nene are attracted to the safe harbor within the grounds of the facility and make their nests there. As soon as the goslings hatch, biologists from the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park collect the goslings and their parents for subsequent release in the national park. The forest bird breeding season is now underway at both our bird facilities, so we hope for good news to update you all with soon. Hi Nancy. Many thanks for your response.
Introduced, feral ungulates are a major problem for native forest, since these plants originally evolved in the absence of large grazers. The state government of Hawaii has a juggling act, in which they allocate land for continued hunting (but not eradication) of these ungulates, which often competes with the management of land for the conservation of endangered species such as the palila.

We do have audio recordings of the palila (as well as all other species) which we play to hatching eggs to encourage the chicks to emerge, and also to the hand-reared chicks to enable them to learn and identify with the vocalizations of their own species.
The nene (Hawaiian goose) is still treading the slow path to recovery, with a population now estimated at between 2,000 to 3,000 birds. On the island of Kauai, the recovery has been particularly successful – probably as a result of being the only major Hawaiian island which has not suffered the introduction of the mongoose. The Maui Bird Conservation Center has produced many nene for release over the years. At the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center on the Big Island, wild nene are attracted to the safe harbor within the grounds of the facility and make their nests there. As soon as the goslings hatch, biologists from the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park collect the goslings and their parents for subsequent release in the national park.
The forest bird breeding season is now underway at both our bird facilities, so we hope for good news to update you all with soon.

]]> By: nancy from michigan http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/blog/2009/04/13/palila-from-hatch-to-wild-home/comment-page-1/#comment-441801 nancy from michigan Sun, 19 Apr 2009 15:38:06 +0000 http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wordpress/?p=4114#comment-441801 very interesting post. what you are doing to save this species is commendable. I didn't realize that Hawaii had feral cattle, cats etc. the palila is a pretty little bird. do you have an audio recording of it's song? how is the Na Na doing? we did see one when we were in Hawaii about 10-years ago! is this the only species of birds that you are trying to save right now? good luck. I know this must be a very interesting and rewarding job, especially when nesting takes place and new hatchlings come into being. do you have any idea as to the numbers in existance presently? keep us posted on your progress! very interesting post. what you are doing to save this species is commendable. I didn’t realize that Hawaii had feral cattle, cats etc. the palila is a pretty little bird. do you have an audio recording of it’s song? how is the Na Na doing? we did see one when we were in Hawaii about 10-years ago! is this the only species of birds that you are trying to save right now? good luck. I know this must be a very interesting and rewarding job, especially when nesting takes place and new hatchlings come into being.
do you have any idea as to the numbers in existance presently? keep us posted on your progress!

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