ʻAlala
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| ʻAlalā | ||||||||||||||
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| Corvus hawaiiensis Peale, 1848 |
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 ʻAlalā range
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The ʻAlalā or Hawaiian Crow (Corvus hawaiiensis) is a species of bird in the jay family, Corvidae. It is about the size of the Carrion Crow at 48–50 centimetres (19–20 in) in length, but with more rounded wings and a much thicker bill. It has soft, brownish-black plumage and long, bristly throat feathers; the feet, legs and bill are black. Native Hawaiians consider the ʻalalā an ʻaumakua (family god).[1]
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[edit] Distribution and habitat
The ʻalalā is now extinct in the wild. Prior to this, the species was only found in the western and southeastern parts of the island of Hawaiʻi.[2] It inhabited dry and mesic forests on the slopes of Mauna Loa and Hualālai at elevations of 300–2,500 metres (980–8,200 ft). ʻŌhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) and koa (Acacia koa) are important tree species in its habitat. Extensive understory cover is necessary to prevent predation by ʻio (Buteo solitarius). Nesting sites receive 600–2,500 millimetres (24–98 in) of annual rainfall.[3] Fossil remains indicate that it previously occurred in relative abundance on all the main islands, along with four other extinct crow species. The species is known for strong flying ability and resourcefulness, and the reasons for its extinction are not fully understood. It is thought that introduced diseases, such as Toxoplasma gondii, avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum), and fowlpox, were probably a significant factor in the species' decline.[2]
[edit] Behaviour
[edit] Diet
The varied diet of the omnivorous ʻalalā is dominated by eggs and nestlings, invertebrates, and fruit; nectar, flowers, carrion are minor components. ʻAlalā will pry bark off of trees and eat the insects found underneath. ʻIeʻie (Freycinetia arborea) vines are an important fruit source, although the birds are not normally seen in wet forests, where ʻieʻie density is highest.[3]
[edit] Voice
ʻAlalā have a call variously described as a two-toned caw and as a screech with lower tones added, similar to a cat's meow. They also make a ca-wak sound and a complex, burbling song, as well as various other sounds.
[edit] Conservation status
The last two known wild individuals of this species disappeared in 2002; the species is now classified as Extinct in the Wild. While some 56 individuals remain in 2 captive breeding facilities, attempts to reintroduce captive-bred birds into the wild have been hampered by predation by ʻio (Buteo solitarius), which is listed as Near Threatened.
On April, 16, 2009, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a five year plan to spend more than $14 million to prevent the extinction of the Hawaiian crow through protection of habitats and management of threats to the species.[4]
[edit] Gallery
 Closeup of a Hawaiian Crow |
[edit] References
- ^ Banko, Paul C.; Donna L. Ball; Winston E. Banko (2002). "Hawaiian Crow (Corvus hawaiiensis)". in A. Poole. The Birds of North America Online. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/648/articles/introduction. Retrieved on 2009-03-20.
- ^ a b "ʻAlalā or Hawaiian Crow" (PDF). Hawaii’s Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. State of Hawaiʻi. 2005-10-01. http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/cwcs/files/NAAT%20final%20CWCS/Chapters/Terrestrial%20Fact%20Sheets/Forest%20Birds/alala%20NAAT%20final2%20!.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-03-20.
- ^ a b (PDF) Draft Revised Recovery Plan for the ʻAlalā (Corvus hawaiiensis). United States Fish and Wildlife Service. October 2003. http://www.fws.gov/pacific/ecoservices/endangered/recovery/documents/AlalaDraftRevisedRecoveryPlan.pdf.
- ^ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (April 17, 2009). "$14M Effort Announced to Save Rare Hawaiian Bird". Science, Global edition (The New York Times). http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/04/17/science/AP-Endangered-Bird-Hawaii.html?_r=1. Retrieved on 2009-04-18.
- BirdLife International (2004). Corvus hawaiiensis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is listed as extinct in the wild
- Walters, Mark Jerome (October-December 2006). "Do No Harm". Conservation Magazine (Society for Conservation Biology) 7 (4): 28-34. http://www.conbio.org/cip/article74har.cfm.
