The Puaiohi is a critically endangered native thrush and the last of the island’s native seed-dispersing species. As such, the Puaiohi, which numbers only 500 birds in the wild, is central to maintaining healthy native forests. Given the Puaiohi’s critical ecosystem role, small population size and restricted range, gaining a better understanding of the conditions […]
Fifty-six waterfalls and counting! All teeming with water as I looked west in disbelief at the scene that lay in front of me. A few minutes later the view was masked by fog once again, the rain continued, so I walked up to camp and sunk back into my sleeping bag. Little did I know […]
By Doug Marcum The Alaka’i Plateau, which sits on top of Kaua’i, is one of the wettest places on earth. On the eastern end of the plateau, near the summit of the island, Mt. Wai’ale’ale receives an average of 450 inches of rain per year. The Hawaiian name roughly translates to “overflowing water”, which is […]
(From the notebook of KFBRP field assistant Elizabeth Abraham) Phew! What a Week. It started with a nest collection on Wednesday April 11th, and finished this with another collection on Wednesday, April 19th! Both nests were Akeke’e which brings our total number of Akeke’e eggs collected this season up to seven. We are definitely growing […]
How do you find an ‘Akeke’e nest among all the trees in the Alaka’i? It’s no easy task especially since it is estimated that there are less than 1000 individuals left in the wild. BUT, this is what the Kauai Forest Bird Project is faced with in their efforts to save the species. Thanks to […]
Mark your calendar for May 14th, 2018. Dr. Lisa “Cali” Crampton will be presenting, “Saving the Jewels of the Forest” at your local library. Isolated from parent gene flow, and encountering a myriad of novel niches on this topographically and climatically diverse island, the ancestor of Kauai’s forest birds evolved into a tremendously diverse and […]
A recently published study from the heart of Kauaʻi’s Alakaʻi Wilderness Preserve has revealed that Puaiohi, a critically endangered native thrush, plays a key role in keeping the rainforest healthy. This delicately patterned songbird eats native fruits and disperses their seeds, but it is estimated that there are fewer than 500 birds left in the […]
If you need an excuse to hike your favorite trail in Koke’e, meet us in the meadow fronting Koke’e museum at 9am on Sunday April 8th. Please bring rain gear, lunch, and water. You will be working independently using a GPS to help refresh the flagging on the transects for the upcoming surveys. If you […]