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Reintroduction of hand-reared alala Corvus hawaiiensis in Hawaii

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 April 2009

C. Kuehler
Affiliation:
The Peregrine Fund, PO Box 39, Volcano, Hawaii 96785, USA.
P. Harrity
Affiliation:
The Peregrine Fund, PO Box 844, Honaunau, Hawaii 96726, USA.
A. Lieberman
Affiliation:
The Peregrine Fund, PO Box 39, Volcano, Hawaii 96785, USA.
M. Kuhn
Affiliation:
The Peregrine Fund, PO Box 39, Volcano, Hawaii 96785, USA.
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Abstract

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The wild alala Corvus hawaiiensis population has been declining for many years and only three pairs of birds are currently reproductively active on the island of Hawaii. At the recommendation of a committee formed by the National Academy of Sciences, a restoration programme was initiated in 1993 by The Peregrine Fund in collaboration with private land-owners, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Biological Service and the State of Hawaii. The restoration programme includes removing eggs from wild nesting birds for artificial incubation, handrearing and reintroduction. In two breeding seasons (1993, 1994), 17 eggs were removed from alala nests in the wild. Three eggs were infertile, 13 chicks hatched and 12 alala were successfully reared (hatchability: 93 per cent; survivability: 92 per cent). Four of these chicks were sent to the State of Hawaii's Olinda Endangered Species Propagation Facility, while four chicks from this facility were sent to the reintroduction programme. Twelve alala have been released by The Peregrine Fund: five in 1993 and seven in 1994. Three of the five birds released in 1993 and all seven of the birds released in 1994 are currently surviving in the wild.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Fauna and Flora International 1995

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