ʻAlalā reach milestones on Maui: Released Hawaiian crows show encouraging signs of recovery

Nearly two years after release into the forests of Haleakalā, five ʻalalā (Hawaiian crows) continue making their way in the wild and demonstrating encouraging natural behaviors.

Flying freely, the birds are engaging fully with their forest home — regularly foraging for food, demonstrating healthy pair-bonding, territoriality and active nest-building behaviors, as well as weathering powerful seasonal storms.

“Having all five birds in the wild and healthy, nearly two years after release, is a significant accomplishment,” said Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project Program Manager, Hanna Mounce, who has a doctorate in biodiversity management.

Nesting and Wild Behaviors

Monitored closely by the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project field team, in collaboration with the ʻAlalā Project partnership, this cohort has reached major milestones. One dominant pair has constructed nests through two consecutive nesting seasons, with the female regularly sitting and the male guarding her. Although nesting has not yet resulted in chicks, the repeated nesting attempts and natural breeding behaviors are encouraging as staff continues to evaluate the potential for successful reproduction in the wild.

All five of the ʻalalā were reared in captive breeding centers and were accustomed to automated feeders in their aviaries. To ensure the young birds’ nutritional needs were met with familiar food options, the field monitoring team has consistently provided supplemental food at similar automated feeders deployed at strategic locations in the forest. The birds continue to use supplemental feeding stations but are also regularly observed foraging for natural foods, including native fruits, insects, spiders and small vertebrates. The cohort continues to exhibit robust health and adaptability.

Resilience: Managing Weather and Storms

While past reintroduction efforts faced setbacks from severe storms and regularly inclement high-elevation weather, this Maui cohort has managed tremendously difficult weather skillfully. The recent Kona lows, Tropical storm Lala and several other noteworthy weather events have caused downed trees, flooding and damage to many Maui regions. The field monitoring team is pleased to report that the birds have consistently negotiated the harsh weather. Through both remote field cameras and in-person observations, the Maui Forest Bird team has witnessed remarkable resilience among the ʻalalā flock.

The multiagency planning team had initially hoped to have two new birds join the free-flying Maui flock but has since pivoted away from this plan. As the original ʻalalā cohort has developed, they’ve demonstrated elevated natural territorial behavior — a powerful sign of the birds’ maturity and “ownership” of this forest region.  

The Future

The encouraging results from this first Maui release are helping inform the next steps for ʻalalā recovery. Partners are evaluating opportunities for additional releases, including the potential for additional release sites on Maui. Planning for renewed ʻalalā reintroductions on Hawaiʻi Island is already underway. 

“ʻAlalā recovery efforts have entered a strong and hopeful phase,” said Mounce. “This collaborative, interagency and multi-decade effort is a demonstration of some of the best work in bird conservation.”

Mounce added: “There is still a lot we need to learn, particularly about what it will take for them to successfully reproduce, but the progress we’ve seen on Maui is giving us valuable information to guide the next steps in ʻalalā recovery. We’re grateful for the resilience of these magnificent birds and the ongoing collaborations that make this ʻalalā recovery journey possible.”