This Week in Nature: The 4th week in May - Spinner dolphins

What's happening in Hawaii 
During the 4th week in May:

Spinner dolphins, (Stenella longirostris longirostris) are brilliant aerial performers, known especially for the long, spiraling leap that has given them their common English name. Spinners frequent calm, inshore waters of all the major Hawaiian islands, entering bays and other protected areas to rest after nights spent hunting in deeper waters. In May, probably because food is plentiful, they remain near shore longer that at other times of year - up to nine hours a day - so now is a good time to look for them in places like Kealakekua Bay on Hawaii, or at Mākua and Keawa'ula on the Waianae coast of Oahu.

Hawaiians may have distinguished among dolphin species, but all went under the same name nai'a. Their cleverness and dexterity won the nai'a such respect that some families regard them as 'aumākua. And if a person jumped to conclusions, another was apt to comment, "He nai'a, he i'a lele!" - "It is a dolphin, a leaping fish!"

Taken from "Hawaii: A Calendar of Natural Events"

published by the Bishop Museum and Kamehameha Schools in 1989

This Week in Nature: The 2nd week in May - Honu

What's happening in Hawaii 
During the 2nd week in May:

Honu, the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), is entering its main nesting season. A few turtles can be found laying eggs on isolated windward beaches of the main islands, but most migrate hundreds of miles to uninhabited islands of the French Frigate Shoals, northwest of Kauai.

Honu, the green sea turtle.

Capture of honu was restricted by a kapu in the old days and made illegal in 1978, but the intervening years were hard, and only a few hundred females now lay eggs in a breeding season. By August, these eggs will produce thousands of young, but few will survive the 10-50 years it may take for honu to reach maturity. Hatchlings fall prey immediately to crabs, and tiger sharks pose a life-long threat.

Honu resting on the rocks at Punalu'u beach, Hawaii Island. 

Honu holds a prominent place in Hawaiian myths and is among the animals that serve some families as ‘aumākua. In a legendary battle with a Moloka‘i chief, the hero Kana of Hilo crushed a “floating hill” which was actually the back of the giant turtle Ka-honu-nui-maeleka. Each piece of the shell came alive, thus populating Hawai‘i with turtles.

Honu at Punalu'u black sand beach, Hawai'i Island. 

To find out more about the green sea turtle, visit the HEAR.org honu info page.

Text and drawn image from "Hawaii: A Calendar of Natural Events"

published by Bishop Museum and Kamehameha Schools in 1989 

This Week in Nature - The 2nd Week in April - Alala

What's Happening in Hawaii

During the 2nd Week in April:

Chicks of 'alalā, the native crow, (Corvus hawaiiensis) would traditionally start hatching in the wild at this time. Unfortunately, there are no longer any 'alalā living in the wild.

'Alalā are endemic to the island of Hawaii, where they were once numerous and widespread. The last remaining wild birds in recent history were found only in the Kona Forest Unit of Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge. Check out this video to see what kind of work is being done to restore habitat for native species at Hakalau:





The Hawaiian Crow has been legally protected by the state of Hawaii since 1931 and was listed as an Endangered Species in 1967. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service prepared a Recovery Plan for the species in 1989, but to date, efforts to increase the wild population through the release of captive-reared birds have been unsuccessful.  A Revised Recovery Plan was released in 2009.


The small wild population decreased dramatically, declining from 11 or 12 birds in 1992 to just two individuals as of April 2002. In 2005, the Keauhou and Maui Bird Conservation Centers housed the world’s entire ‘alalā population: 55 individuals. Currently the 'Alala population stands at 67 individuals. 52 are at the Kilauea Bird Conservation Center on Hawai'i, 14 at the Maui Bird Conservation Center, and one at the San Diego Wild Animal Park.


Visit the San Diego Zoo blog to read the story " 'Alala Takes Extraordinary Flight" about a Hawaiian Crow named Kinohi and his recent "flight" across the Pacific.

Check out this video for more about the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center and to see some adorable baby Puaiohi birds being hand-fed. Alala makes a debut in the video at about minute 2:55.





Like other crows, ‘alalā are raucous, gregarious and vocal; young, captive-raised birds often engage in tug-of-war with sticks. Like many corvids, ‘alalā are long-lived and have a life span of 20 or more years. The species’ diet primarily consists of native and introduced fruits, invertebrates, and eggs and nestlings of other forest birds, as well as nectar, flowers and carrion.
 
A Hawaiian proverb identifies the 'alalā as "a loud-voiced bird," and its name imitates its call. Used as a verb, "'alalā" means to bawl, cry, caw, or scream. All this implies no lack of respect, however. 'Alalā served as 'aumākua of many families on the island of Hawaii.

Click here to hear the call of the 'alala.


To learn more about 'Alalā, visit the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy 'Alalā fact sheet here. Also, see the US Fish and Wildlife Service's webpage about the Hawaiian Crow here.

*The above information was gathered from: the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, the Audubon Watchlist and "Hawaii: A Calendar of Natural Events," published by Bishop Museum and Kamehameha Schools in 1989. The above image is also from "Hawaii: A Calendar of Natural Events." 

The videos in the post were found on YouTube. The second video was posted as part of the Huaka'i Aina Hooilina series posted by Kamehameha Schools. 

This Week in Nature - The 1st Week in April - Welo/Pueo

What's Happening in Hawaii

During the 1st Week in April:

Welo ka huelo ku.

The standing tails sway.

Welo means "moving with the wind" and is also a Hawaiian name for April. This month's breezes shake the new shoots put forth by vines, making them look so lively that the Hawaiian short-eared owl, pueo, (Asio flammeus sandwichensis) is said to sometimes attack in the mistaken belief that they are the huelo (tails) of rats. Besides recording a biological phenomenon, this proverb involves a play on words between "welo" and "huelo." 

Pueo; Hawaiian Short-eared owl

Photo: C. Tucker

While rats came to Hawaii with the first settlers, pueo are true natives and are revered by some families as 'aumākua, or guardian ancestors. Perhaps because they soar high in the sky yet nest on the ground, pueo are particularly associated with a Hawaiian saying that describes 'aumākua as 'ano lani, 'ano honua - of the heavens and of the earth.

Pueo in flight

Photo(and top photo): Forest and Kim Starr

Pueo figure prominently in Hawaiian myths, including one from Maui in which the owl god Pueo-nui-akea carries wandering souls back to life.

To learn more about the Pueo, visit the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy webpage and the Pueo fact sheet by clicking here.

Text from "Hawaii: A Calendar of Natural Events"

published by Bishop Museum and Kamehameha Schools in 1989.

Native Species of the Week: Pueo

Pueo 

Hawaiian Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeus sandwichensis

Pueo, Kanaha Beach, Maui. 

Photo by Forest & Kim Starr

SPECIES INFORMATION: 

The pueo, or Hawaiian short-eared owl, is an endemic subspecies of the nearly pandemic short-eared owl (Asio flammeus; Family: Strigidae). The species is thought to have colonized the Hawaiian Islands sometime after the arrival of Polynesians. The pueo is State listed as endangered on O‘ahu.

Unlike most owls, pueo are active during the day (i.e., diurnal), and are commonly seen hovering or soaring over open areas. Like short-eared owls in continental environments, those in Hawai‘i primarily consume small mammals. 

Pueo on fence, Waimea, Hawai'i.

Photo by Forest & Kim Starr

Little is known about the breeding biology of pueo, but nests have been found throughout the year. Males perform aerial displays known as a "sky dancing display" to prospective females. Nests are constructed by females and are comprised of simple scrapes in the ground lined with grasses and feather down. Females also perform all incubating and brooding. Males feed females and defend nests. Young may fledge from nest on foot before they are able to fly and depend on their parents for approximately two months.

DISTRIBUTION: 

Found on all the Main Hawaiian Islands from sea level to 2,450 meters (8,000 feet).

ABUNDANCE: 

Specifics unknown. See comment below for additional information provided by a DOFAW blog reader.

LOCATION AND CONDITION OF KEY HABITAT: 

Pueo occupy a variety of habitats, including wet and dry forests, but are most common in open habitats such as grasslands, shrublands, and montane parklands, including urban areas and those actively managed for conservation. Because of a lack of historical population data and the species’ current, broad habitat use, key habitat variables are difficult to determine. Pueo occur in many areas that are managed by the Sate of Hawai‘i or Federal agencies.

Pueo in flight.

Photo by Forest & Kim Starr

THREATS: 

Pueo are likely susceptible to the same factors that threaten other native Hawaiian birds, including: loss and degradation of habitat, predation by introduced mammals, and disease. However, their persistence in lowland, non-native and rangeland habitats suggests that they may be less vulnerable to extinction than other native birds, especially because they may be resistant to avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) and avian pox (Poxvirus avium).

Despite this, for pueo populations, the following are of particular concern:

• “Sick owl syndrome.” Mortality on Kaua‘i has been attributed to this syndrome, which may be related to pesticide poisoning or food shortages.
• Predation. Because pueo nest on the ground, their eggs and young are vulnerable to predation by rats (Rattus spp.), cats (Felis silvestris), and the small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus).
• Habitat loss may be particularly important to O‘ahu pueo populations.
• Contaminants or toxins. Because pueo are top predators, fat-soluble contaminants may accumulate in prey species; may be related to “sick owl syndrome” (see above).
• Human interaction. Hunting behavior and habitat use predispose pueo to vehicular collisions, which have been documented on Lāna‘i and the island of Hawai‘i.

Pueo, Kahana Beach, Maui

Photo by Forest & Kim Starr

CONSERVATION ACTIONS: 

Pueo likely have benefited from management activities designed to conserve other endangered birds. They also may benefit from game bird management; high densities of pueo occur on lands where game birds also are common. In addition to these efforts, future management specific to the pueo may include the following:

• Determine population trends, especially on islands where “sick owl syndrome” has been documented.
• Public outreach and education.
• Continued protection and management of wildlife sanctuaries and refuges.
  

For more info about the Hawaiian short-eared owl and other native species, visit the Hawaii Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy pueo fact sheet.

Also visit the Hawaii Ecosystems At Risk (HEAR) webpage for more info and photos.

For information about the role of pueo in Hawaiian culture, visit the Kamehameha Schools Distance Learning pueo info page. While you're there, check out the informative Hawaiian Culture Audio PowerPoint Presentations.