#hawaiian crow

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.

The pilot project that released five ʻalalā (Hawaiian crows) into the forests of Maui in November of 2024 is taking steps to expand the flock. Two ʻalalā, a male and female, were recently translocated to the field aviary where the first five birds got their start more than a year ago.

The five ʻalalā, or Hawaiian crows, released last November are demonstrating promising wild behaviors, the Department of Land and Natural Resources reports.

Five months after release into the Kīpahulu Forest Reserve in East Maui, a cohort of five ʻalalā (Hawaiian crows) is healthy and continues to discover and practice the instinctual behaviors unique to the species.

A pilot release of five ʻalalā recently occurred on the leeward slopes of Haleakalā, in the Kīpahulu Forest Reserve on Maui. This cooperative effort is a historic first release of Hawaiʻi’s endemic crow on Maui and the first reintroduction attempt outside of Hawaiʻi Island.

Students across Hawai‘i are being offered rare access to learn about endangered Hawaiian forest birds. 

This multi-partner pilot release allows wildlife managers the opportunity to monitor and evaluate ʻalalā and its potential for survival and breeding in the forests of East Maui without risk of depredation by ‘io (Hawaiian hawk). The EA provides background information concerning methods for release of ‘alalā and outlines the proposed action, potential impacts, and strategies to avoid and minimize potential adverse impacts of the project on East Maui.

The Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday approved plans by the DLNR, and US Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct a pilot release of captive-bred ʻalalā onto forest reserve lands in east Maui. 

‘Io research is being conducted by the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and is giving conservationists new insights into the majestic birds’ range and behaviors. This is expected to help better plan for future release sites of the ʻalalā (Hawaiian crow) back into the wild on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island.

The partners of The ‘Alalā Project have attempted to reintroduce ‘alalā into native forests, after the last bird in the wild was spotted decades ago.

“We have forests that are similar to the forest on Hawai‘i Island where ʻalalā were released. There are abundant food resources in our Maui Nui forests; abundant trees that would be suitable for nesting platforms. And we do not have the ʻio predation risk, because we don’t have ‘io here,” Duvall said.

Conservationists working to recover the ‘alalā (Hawaiian crow) are addressing recent mortalities of the species living in the Pu’u Maka`ala Natural Area Reserve on Hawai‘i island by bringing the surviving wild crows back into the protection of its conservation breeding program.

The ‘Alalā Project is now in the fourth year of releases, and despite losses, project organizers say the birds are continuing to grow and learn in their new environment.

Seven additional ʻAlalā, critically endangered Hawaiian crows, were released into the Puʻu Makaʻala Natural Area Reserve on Hawaiʻi Island.

Eleven wild ʻAlalā, or native Hawaiian crows, have survived impacts of Hurricane Lane in their forest home in the Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve.

Members of The ‘Alalā Project say that the reintroduction of captive-raised birds without the benefit of experienced ‘Alalā already in the wild is challenging.

Although the birds had been observed doing well and eating from feeders placed in the area, three ‘Alalā, or Hawaiian crow, were found dead over the last week.

Allocations of nearly a quarter-million dollars each were also made for the management of the critically-endangered ʻalalā, or Hawaiian Crow; and conservation efforts fro more than 40 federally-listed, and five rare species of snails.