RARE BIRDS IN MAUI FIRE

 

So much has been written about the loss of life and almost total destruction of the small town of Lahaina on the island of  Maui.  We are certain wildlife fleeing the fire must have perished as well, but recently in the news is the conservation group who have managed to save some very rare birds. My readers know by now how much the birds of Hawaii mean to me.

The Maui Bird Conservation Center, one of two in Hawaii managed by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (the other being on the Big Island), has set up areas to protect the islands’ native birds. There are two species of rare birds housed in the center, the ‘akikiki and  the ‘alalā (Hawaiian crow).  Already more than three dozen ‘akikiki relatives have gone extinct.  Exerts say the ‘akikiki is next.

 The goal is to release birds into the wilderness in the future, saving the species from extinction. Eggs from ‘akikiki and ‘alalā, have been collected.

A neighbor alerted the center of approaching fire and they sprang into motion using multiple fire extinguishers and a garden hose to fend off the flames until firefighters arrived about 40 minutes later.

"In that moment, our instincts kicked in and we knew what we had to do. The goal was to keep the fire from spreading toward the aviaries," said Jennifer Pribble the Senior Research Coordinator in Recovery Ecology.   "We appreciate the work of the neighbor who jumped in, and the firefighters who have been out front keeping the fire at bay so we can continue to focus on the birds.”

The wildfire came within about 150 feet from the edge of the center’s 46-acre property. Strong winds  caused damage across the entire facility which required the team to evacuate some birds into other shelters. But for now the birds are safe.

,While there is struggle to save the akikiki, the ʻalalā breeding program has resulted in an incredible increase in the population, from fewer than 20 birds in the late 1990s to more than 110 birds today.