‘Alala sharing enrichment food items

Once all the materials are in place, it is time to socialize males and females a little at a time and watch the birds’ behaviors, good and bad. This part of the process feels a little bit like chaperoning a school dance—except that we want the amorous couple to go all the way! This year at MBCC we have three pairs of breeding puaiohi, three pairs of Maui parrotbills, and three pairs of ‘alala.

The Hawaiian crow, or ‘alala, is critically endangered, and breeding season for this species is especially important. Much thought and planning goes in to every step of the process. Socializations start with 20-minute sessions to watch for the crows’ initial reactions to each other. This new and sudden interaction can lead to positive results, such as wooing and copulation. It could also very easily go the other way with contact aggression and fighting. As the crows grow more comfortable with each other and within each other’s aviaries, the sessions are lengthened and will eventually last the entire day. It only takes one good socialization to produce results, but allowing for that perfect moment to occur is risky business.

Puaiohi chick in nesting cup

So far this year we have three puaiohi hatchlings that the staff are hand raising, and they are doing great! One is now three weeks old and is learning to eat on his own. The second was hatched one week ago and is slowly and painfully growing in feathers. The last is only a few days old. The chicks hatch featherless and blind and are completely dependent on their substitute parents, the staff. Over the next 40 days they grow bigger and stronger, learn how to eat by themselves, fledge the nest, and eventually learn to fly. Whether these chicks are later released on Kauai or become captive breeders, they, like all the new arrivals, are valuable to the survival of the species. And that makes our work here so important!

Preparing diets for the birds

We also have four more eggs in the incubators that are set to hatch within the next few days. Every day the eggs are weighed to monitor the amount of fluid that is being lost. The eggs are kept in highly sensitive incubators that can be adjusted to the most exact degrees of heat and humidity, depending on the specific conditions the egg needs to properly develop. The eggs are also candled periodically to watch for specific stages in development. What we look for during candling are signs of healthy egg development; blood vessels, embryo growth and movement, and expansion of the air cell.

Busy birds mean busy days for the staff at MBCC! We will keep you posted on our progress throughout breeding season. In the meantime, send lusty thoughts our way!

Karen McKeogh is an intern at the San Diego Zoo’s Maui Bird Conservation Center.

Read more blogs about the Hawaii Endangered Bird Program…

Fortunately, the prevailing tradewinds have been pushing the fumes southwest, away from the facility. Rarely do the winds blow from the south, so for now, the birds, the staff, and the facilities are out of harm’s way, but we need to be prepared. If Madame Pele continues to fuss and fume and the winds come in our direction, we need to be prepared.

Staff will be protected with masks and respirators and we may have to box and transport the bird inventory to temporary quarters at the Maui Bird Conservation Center, our sister facility. Although the evacuation accommodations on Maui will be tight, it is best to be prepared—after all, these birds are species that are perhaps the most endangered in the world!

In the meantime, the volcanic gases and the bubbling lava that flows from Kilauea and the Pu`u O`o vent on the volcano’s west flank are providing a spectacular show for tourists, residents, and the volcanologists who are thrilled with so much volcanic activity.

Alan Lieberman is the conservation program manager for the Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program.

Here’s more information about the Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program…
Listen to an iZoofari Chat with Alan, posted in October 2007…

A kipuka is an isolated, remnant forest created by topographic “bumps” around which lava has flowed, creating a green island in a sea of sterile lava. This is a wonderful opportunity to “seed” endangered birds into a fairly pristine native habitat. From August into October, biologists for the program have been acclimating, releasing, and supporting a total of 6 creepers and 12 ‘akepa. The ‘akepa are released in family groups. (Read a blog about ‘akepa, A Small but Mighty ‘Akepa.)

Because we only have one release/acclimation aviary, the process of reintroduction is slow, but we want to be sure we are releasing birds that are independent and fully capable of making the transition from captivity to the wild. After all, some of these birds hatched in managed care are more than 9 years old and have never seen a wild ohia tree before!

So far, all is going very well, and more than half of the released birds are seen on a daily basis. We’ll keep you posted on the progress of the release. More to come!

Listen to the ‘akepa

Listen to the Hawaii creeper

Alan Lieberman is a conservation program manager at CRES.

Listen to an iZoofari Chat with Alan about the releases.

Read blogs from staff involved in the Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program.

The quarantine process lasts for 30 days or more and it is a procedure to ensure that no new diseases enter the captive program through newly captured wild birds. It is also a way to determine the “base line” diseases that already exist in the wild population before being exposed to the captive birds. Each of the newly arrived birds is assigned a unique band combination, its own cage, and a studbook or registry number. All of the birds are housed on one area in the facility: an area considered off limits to everyone but the person assigned to daily care. The daily routine can be intense: each bird is provided with its own food dish, water dish, clipped fruit, and a cup of nectar. The food dish is full of our captive diet of: fruit cocktail, papaya, egg, birdseed, apple, melon, orange, and other dry food items. The wild palila are also provided with an endless supply of mamane pods, which are their mainstay wild food.

The daily routine begins at 6:30 a.m. Each bird is caught and weighed. Weight loss is the first indication of problems. If the bird loses too much weight, fluids are given subcutaneously. The transition from wild diet to captive diet can be difficult. It was soon apparent that these new palila would need encouragement to learn their new diet, since a reliable mamane supply is neither predictable nor assured. The new birds insisted on eating only mamane pods. We soon learned that as you held the palila in one hand for its daily weights, placed a food item like papaya in front of it, its natural reaction would be to attack, or bite it, and essentially eat from our hands. This feeding technique proved to be very successful and slowly the palila are beginning to eat the captive diet and are beginning to gain back lost weight.

Now that weights are stabilized we can concentrate on the veterinary aspects of their quarantine, which includes taking blood samples and fecal evaluations to ensure their good health and to protect the birds already in our program.

Lisa Komarcyzk is a Research Fellow with the Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program/CRES.

The initial diet for our tiny chick was cricket guts, honeybee larvae, and hardboiled egg fed every hour from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. (or longer if the chick needs extra feeds). After a few days of growth we add mealworm guts, papaya, and nectar. We slowly add several mineral and vitamin supplements along the way, items like calcium, vitamin B1, bone meal, and a special tonic. We’ll be feeding this chick until it is about 50 days old, slowly decreasing our feeding schedule as the chick learns to feed on his own. His (her?) adult diet will soon be mostly nectar and insects.

Today, the chick is about three weeks old and weighs 7.5 grams (0.26 ounces). That is equal to two pennies. He is very strong and surprisingly loud for such a little guy. He fledged on June 20, and while he is still apprehensive about large flights across the aviary, he is getting around quite well and enjoying his freedom. Who knows, someday he may be enjoying his freedom outside of our aviaries in a native Hawaiian forest!

We’re hoping this little bundle of energy will join the adult ‘akepa (including his/her parents) in the flock of birds that are scheduled for release in August in Hawaii’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife management area at Kipuka 21 on the Saddle Road on the slopes of Mauna Kea. That will be a great day for all of us!

Amy Lockyer is a research associate with the Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program/CRES.

Read a blog about the first ‘akepa to hatch under the Program’s care.

On May 2 we were confronted with our first case of egg binding in a female ‘alala. Egg binding is the failure of an egg to pass through the oviduct at a normal rate. One of our most productive females, Lilinoe, was expected to begin laying her first clutch of eggs for the season but had become lethargic and had stopped visiting her nest. It became apparent that she was having trouble passing an egg.

You may think that being located on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean would prevent efficient and effective veterinary management in an urgent case like this. Not so! Dr. Beth Bicknese, along with her San Diego Zoo veterinary colleagues, guided the staff at the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center through all of the procedures necessary to stabilize and support the depressed, egg-bound bird. Blood was drawn for analysis, swabs taken for cultures, and subcutaneous fluids and medications were administered. A local veterinarian was enlisted for an on-site physical exam and was able to assist in the passing of Lilinoe’s first egg. We all drew a deep sigh of relief as she passed the (collapsed) egg.

When Lilinoe’s attitude and appetite did not rebound with the passing of the first egg, it was evident that her condition was more serious than we had thought. The Center’s attentive staff added tube feeding to Lilinoe’s list of treatments. The decision to bring a veterinarian and a vet tech out from San Diego was made and within 24 hours Dr. Geoff Pye and Kim Williams, RVT, arrived in Hawaii with surgical and ultrasound equipment in tow. Upon their arrival at the facility, an ultrasound (pictured above) and radiographs revealed a second collapsed egg in Lilinoe’s oviduct. Surgery was necessary to remove the egg. It took place in the Center’s clinic, and Dr. Pye impressively made a small incision at the exact location of the egg and extracted the egg and all of its contents. Within an hour after recovering from anesthesia, Lilinoe was alert and eating her first bites after a week of inappetence. Although Lilinoe will not be producing any more eggs this season, she has recovered from last month’s surgery and we hope that in the future she will continue to contribute to the future generations of ‘alala.

It goes without saying that we work with the best of the best. The San Diego Zoo veterinarians, pathologists, and laboratory technicians provide a level of care and expertise that is hard to match. MAHALO from all of us in Hawaii!

A. Tracey Goltz is a research animal coordinator for the Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program/CRES.

Read Tracey’s previous blog about ‘alala: Endangered Species Propagation Challenges.

Here’s information about the Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program.

Nene pairs usually arrive in late fall to stake their claim on the perfect nesting site. It has to be just right to optimize protection from the sun, rain, and predators. The nest must also be comfortable, because the female sits on her fist-sized eggs for the entire 30-day incubation period. Imagine sitting on your couch for one month with only a few breaks a day to visit the refrigerator and the bathroom! Females will usually lay clutches of three to four eggs. The males will guard the sitting female with steadfast determination and loyalty. If you wander too close to a nene nest, prepare to deal with a male goose as fierce as a junkyard dog! Most males will hiss and charge, and some will take flight and crash right into the intruder. Nene have a reputation for being gentle and aloof, but not when guarding their precious eggs.

Once the eggs hatch into little fuzzy goslings, the biologists from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park relocate the whole family (parents and goslings) to their nene brooding grounds in the Park (see blog, Nene Goslings Released on Maui). There, the nene family is kept in 450 acres (182 hectares) of predator-proofed grassy lands with plenty of supplemental foods to insure that the nene goslings will grow to become big strong geese. When the goslings are able to fly, they will leave the enclosure on their own to explore the rest of the Park and surrounding lands and skies.

The KBCC and the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park have been working together for the recovery of the nene since 2000 when the first of the KBCC’s captive nene families were translocated to the Park. Through the years, the captive nene flock at KBCC has decreased to just two individuals. However, nene pairs that were once part of this captive population return to the KBCC for breeding and nesting year after year. In fact, more and more wild nene are starting to show up for the same reasons. It would appear that word has gotten around that the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center is a good place for nene nesting during the breeding season.

Blake Jones is a Research Fellow for the Applied Animal Ecology Division of CRES, Hawaii Endangered Bird
Conservation Program.

Read about the Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program.

This season began with one especially heart-wrenching case: Akamai’s first egg of the year. This egg was artificially incubated at the program’s facilities on the Big Island. It was a great-looking egg, good shell and membranes. We tracked the embryo’s development over 22 days of incubation. On the 23rd day, during candling, we saw that the chick had moved into the aircell of the egg and was breathing air and tapping on the inside of the shell. For some reason, the chick was unable to break through the shell. We “pipped” the shell for the chick, making a small hole in the shell where the tip of its beak was tapping. The chick was then able to use the hole as a starting point to begin its rotation around the top of the egg. Over the next seven hours we watched as the chick broke through the shell, making the path around the egg that usually takes a normal chick no more than an hour to accomplish. The chick finally hatched with a little help from staff. It quickly became obvious why this chick was having such a hard time hatching on its own: it was missing its right eye and its beak was severely deformed (see image above). Its feeding response was poor and general attitude was weak. This chick only lived for a couple of days after hatching.

Due to these types of congenital abnormalities, we continue to attempt to “outbreed” the captive flock (i.e., make the best genetic matches) to improve the genetic health of the flock. In 2006, we are pleased to report that we did hatch and rear three healthy `alala chicks: two males and one female. We cherish the healthy chicks, however few they may be!

A. Tracey Goltz is a research animal coordinator for the Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program/CRES.

Read more blogs from Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program staff.

In January and April, the veterinary team from the San Diego Zoo visited the MBCC to assess the youngsters’ suitability for release to the wild. Blood and fecal samples were screened for disease, physical examinations were performed, and an identification microchip was implanted into the neck of each gosling. All 25 goslings were approved for release so, in further preparation for their release, the goslings were sexed and fitted with alternative leg bands for identification in the wild.

On January 24, 2006, 13 goslings were picked up by the Hawaii Division of Forestry & Wildlife (DOFAW) and airlifted by helicopter to a pre-release pen within Haleakala National Park. The first few weeks were spent within the pen so the goslings could acquaint themselves with the terrain and natural foods; they also exercised their wings in anticipation of their first flight. Eventually the youngsters left the release pen and began to explore the dramatic landscape within the crater.

Unfortunately, in the short period between the veterinary examinations and the release date, one gosling developed health problems: a protozoan infection. As a precaution, both the sick bird and its three penmates were treated for the infection, delaying their release. Eventually, the sick gosling fully recovered, and once these goslings were cleared for release they were transferred in March to a release pen at Hana Ula in West Maui. The primary feathers on the wings of these four goslings were clipped to ensure the birds became properly acclimated before flying off. Following a future molt, the birds will be ready for flight and freedom.

Finally, in May, the last seven goslings were also transferred to the crater of Haleakala. One male gosling designated as a new recruit for the captive breeding program was retained at the MBCC.

Meanwhile, all our resident adult nene recently entered their molt, a physiological response to the birds’ waning reproductive hormones that signifies the end of breeding activity. In reflecting on the season, the MBCC nene flock can be satisfied with the 24 goslings produced for release in 2006. In doing so, the MBCC has made a valuable contribution to the survival of Hawaii’s wild nene population.

Josh Kramer is a Research Fellow at the Maui Bird Conservation Center.

Here’s more information about the Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program.
Read more Weblogs about the Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program.

With just over 50 birds in existence, it is essential to preserve as much genetic diversity as possible within the captive flock. One way to do this is to ensure that every ‘alala has the opportunity to contribute to the gene pool, with greatest value assigned to birds whose genes are least represented.

Unfortunately, neither Kauila (pictured above) nor Kinohi have ever bred. It would be fair to say that both males have shown little talent for wooing their prospective mates. Yet their genes have great value - not just now, but also in the future. So it was a natural progression to seek the expertise of Dr. Barbara Durrant, Head of Reproductive Physiology and Endocrinology at CRES.

Under Dr. Durrant’s guidance, staff at the Maui Bird Conservation Center have been trained in the fine art of massage. Staff are stroking the abdomen and cloaca of Kauila and Kinohi in an attempt to obtain sperm samples. It is hoped that their sperm can be used for artificial insemination of females whose reproductive cycle makes them suitable recipients and whose genes make an appropriate pairing. In the meantime, it is hoped that the ‘alala sperm can be banked in the Frozen Zoo, to be thawed out when needed.

That is the goal. The first of many challenges is to actually acquire the sperm sample, and this requires practice, for both bird and staff! But for the moment, Kauila and Kinohi don’t seem to mind all the attention.

Richard Switzer is a Research Fellow for the Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program