Like many of the plants of Maui and the Hawaiian islands, the native birds of East Maui have adapted and evolved to co-exist in the unique and complex ecosystem of the developing islands. Here you will learn about honeycreepers and other birds that can be found in the East Maui Watershed.
Honeycreepers
Millions of years ago, after the eruptions of volcanoes formed land masses in the middle of the Pacific ocean, different species of birds, plants and insects too! found their way to these new islands by one of three ways: wings, waves, or wind.
Scientists believe that all of East Maui’s forest songbirds (passerines) had evolved from an unknown finch-like species. These birds are collectively called honeycreepers.
Over the years, the birds adapted to their new environment, along with the other birds, plants and insects to become what they are today – a diverse group of anatomically different songbirds that inhabit the forests of East Maui.
However, threats to the watershed have diminished the numbers of these birds drastically, sometimes causing extinction. The chances of seeing a Hawaiian honeycreeper among human habitation are slim to none. The Poʻouli, pictured below, is fighting extinction as we speak. As of 2004 individuals left were brought into captivity for breeding purposes in hopes to reestablish a breeding population.
The Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project(MFBRP) is an organization that works specifically with the protection and research of native honeycreepers in the Hanawi Natural Area Reserve, a section of pristine rainforest within the East Maui Watershed. All of the honeycreeper photos below are courtesy of MFBRP.
ʻApapane
The ʻApapane is one of the two red Honeycreepers found on Maui. The other one is the ʻIʻiwi. The ʻApapane can be distinguished from the ʻIʻiwi by its short, slightly curved black bill and a white crissum (the area underneath the tail feathers).
Populations of ʻApapane are locally abundant. These nectar feeders are commonly seen during interpretive hikes into Waikamoi Preserve dancing atop ʻōhia lehua blossoms.
The ʻApapane pictured here is outfitted with a tiny radio-transmitter glued onto its feathers to help scientists better understand these birds’ movements.
ʻIʻiwi
These bright scarlet birds are a common sight in the upper elevation forests of East Maui Watershed. They are easily recognized by a long curved orange bill that has co-evolved with tubular flowers like the native mints and lobelias. Populations of ‘I’iwi are locally abundant.
This one is feeding from ʻakala flowers. ʻAkala is a native Hawaiian raspberry whose bright red and juicy fruits are used traditionally to make dyes for kapa cloth.
The picture on the bird on the right is a keiki, or juvenile ʻIʻiwi. They have speckled green and dark feathers on the body before molting into bright scarlet plumage as adults.
Maui ʻAlauahio or Maui Creeper
The Maui “Creeper” is so named because of its feeding habits. It creeps along trunks, branches and twigs, flipping over bark and lichen in search of insects and grub.
The ʻAlauahio is one of the more social honeycreepers, often congregating in flocks. It is very similar in appearance to the Hawaiian ʻAmakihi. One can tell them apart by their bills – the ʻAlauahio has a shorter, straighter bill. Males are bright yellow, with females and juveniles a duller yellow.
Populations of Maui ʻAlauahio are locally abundant.
Hawaiian ʻAmakihi
This species is found from Molokaʻi to the Big Island, while Oʻahu and Kauaʻi have their own distinct species. The Hawaiian ʻAmakihi can be distinguished from the other yellow honeycreeper on Maui, the Maui ʻAlauahio, by its slightly longer, more curved bill, and by a black streaked lore (the area between the base of the bill and the eye).
Like all Honeycreepers, the Hawaiian ʻAmakihi takes nectar from the flowers of the forest. Populations of Hawaiian ʻAmakihi in the upper forested watersheds of East Maui are locally abundant.
ʻAkohekohe – ENDANGERED
Populations of ʻAkohekohe, or Crested Honeycreeper are estimated at 1200 individuals, found only in East Maui Watershed. A few of these birds have been sighted in the Waikamoi Preserve during interpretive hikes.
Why are our native populations of Honeycreepers disappearing?
ʻAkohekohe is the more aggressive Honeycreeper, actively defending its territory – an ʻōhia lehua tree in full bloom or a nest site.
Kiwikiu or Maui Parrotbill – ENDANGERED
The Maui Parrotbill is named not because it is a relative of parrots, but because of its strong, parrot-like bill. The thick neck muscles of this unique and rare honeycreeper allow the bird to use its bill like a can opener, prying open twigs, small branches and other plant material in search of insects and grubs.
Found only in the East Maui Watershed, the population of Maui Parrotbills is estimated at around 500 individuals. A few individuals have been routinely sited during interpretive hikes in Waikamoi Preserve. Maui Parrotbills can be seen amongst Maui ‘Alauahio flocks. They are easily distinguished by their large beaks and the light stripe above the eye.
Poʻouli – ENDANGERED
The Po’ouli is quite possibly the rarest bird in the world. It was only discovered in 1973 by University of Hawaii students in the wet montane forest of the East Maui Watershed. Fossil evidence shows that these birds once inhabited the drier leeward side of Haleakalā. Poʻouli are cryptic birds with quiet songs and calls.
Though the numbers of Poʻouli on Maui have not been high (some scientists estimated about 140 in the early 1980s) the population has been in steady decline since its discovery. Surveys in 1994-1995 discovered 6 Po’ouli at 4 locations. Surveys from 1997 to the present have shown only 3 birds at three separate locations. These remaining 3 birds were color banded and released in 1997-1998.
In 2001-2002 efforts to capture and translocate a female Poʻouli to a male Poʻouli’s homerange were successfully carried out by the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project. Although the translocated Poʻouli flew back home the following day, researchers garnered valuable information, enabling them to formulate a plan for captive breeding.
On September 9, 2004 one of the Poʻouli was captured and brought to the Maui Bird Conservation Center for captive breeding. Sadly, this individual died from malaria on November 26, 2004. The two remaining Poʻouli, believed to be a male and a female, have not been observed for over a year.
“It was very sad news and it’s certainly a serious blow for the recovery for this species,” said Eric VanderWerf the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Hawaiian bird recovery coordinator. “The chances of success were low to begin with because we only had three birds. Now we only have two. We’ll never have another one like it if it disappears. I kind of liken it in some way to the loss of the Mona Lisa or the Sistine Chapel. If we lost that, we could never get it back. We can never get another one.” Read The Whole Story (PDF)
Other Native Birds
Nēnē – ENDANGERED
The nēnē goose is the Hawaiian state bird. It’s ancestor is the Canada Goose, a common waterfowl of North America. The nene have adapted to the dry rocky terrain of the Hawaiian islands by decreasing the webbing on their feet.
Unlike many of the waterfowl that populated Hawaiʻi before the arrival of humans, the nene retained their ability to fly, thus helping them evade predators once humans and their imported mammals settled on the islands. Today, one can find populations of nene on Maui at Haleakalā National Park.
ʻUaʻu of Hawaiian Petrel – ENDANGERED
Named after its vocalizations (an eerie oooh-ah-oooh) these birds make their nests underground in the form of burrows. When not nesting, these birds spend their lives over the ocean. The largest population of ʻUaʻu in Hawaii can be found in Haleakalā Crater. Even here, these birds are vulnerable to predation in burrows by the introduced species of mongooses, rats and feral cats.
Kolea or Pacific Golden Plover
The Kolea nest in Alaska and migrate to the Hawaiian islands during the winter months, though some populations of Kolea have established themselves on the islands year-round. These birds are commonly found in open grassy areas. Their plumage varies from drab under parts and brown upper parts of brown speckled with gold to a bold black front edged with white, as shown in this picture. This second version is the Kolea’s breeding plumage.
