Episode 17: Birds on the Brink

Episode Location

Makawao, Hawaii

Additional Resources

Topics

Hawai’i is home to a broad, beautiful array of bird species found only on its islands — like the stunningly diverse honeycreepers, many on the border of extinction. Now, a local team is removing invasive predators, restoring habitats, and battling mosquito-borne diseases to protect honeycreepers from their latest threat: avian malaria.

More than 50 species of honeycreepers once filled the forests and mountains of Hawai’i with their songs. Now, only 17 species remain, with some placed at risk of extinction within the next few years. Avian malaria, primarily transmitted by mosquitoes, poses the most significant threat.

While avian diseases are widespread globally, they only reached Hawai’i in the early 1900s. Many native birds, including honeycreepers, evolved without a natural resistance. The Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project is implementing a mosquito control technique to reduce mosquito populations, offering a lifeline for native birds a chance to raise their next generation. This innovative approach offers an opportunity to not only protect Hawaiian honeycreepers but also serve as a beacon for preserving biodiversity worldwide.

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October 30, 2023

From Scientific American

Mosquito ‘birth control’ could save Hawaii’s iconic honeycreepers

Honeycreepers are a diverse group of birds found only in the forests of the Hawaii Islands, where they thrived for millions of years. But now, some species may disappear within the decade thanks to a growing threat: avian malaria.

February 5, 2024

Episode 16: Seabird Sanctuary

All around the world, seabirds provide a critical link between land and sea. On Hawai’i, ecologists are working to protect two vital shearwater species that helped life first take hold on these islands.

February 8, 2024

By Rachel Fritts

To save these shorebirds, scientists are tracking every ‘step’ of their 9000-mile migration

New tracking technologies are uncovering the flight paths of endangered shorebirds — and the obstacles they face along the way.

September 15, 2023

Difficult Topics in Conservation: Managing Invasive Species

Stories of ecosystem recovery offer opportunities to celebrate the work of scientists, volunteers, and communities coming together to restore natural spaces. But sometimes, saving species calls for difficult choices.