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Status: Population size: 17,100 Photo by Peter LaTourrette.

Maui Alauahio
(Paroreomyza montana)

Formerly consisting of two subspecies, respectively specific to the islands of Lanai and Maui, but now consisting solely of the Maui race. The Lanai race was last sighted in 1937 and is now considered extinct. The Maui race was extirpated from the west side of the island around 1900, but still occurs on the east side of the island.

Identification
A small round-headed yellow-green Hawaiian honeycreeper that lacks the dark lores of similar species which overlap in range. This is a bold and inquisitive species with a loud cheek call that is often seen foraging in family groups or in pairs.

Distribution and Population Trends
Described by early naturalists as common throughout the forests of both Lanai and Maui but distribution contracted rapidly in response to habitat alteration. The last remnant of this species persists in three forest areas on eastern Maui. A comparison of surveys conducted between 1980 and 1997 suggests that this population is stable although distribution has contracted during the same time period.

Ecology
Very poorly known prior to an intensive study that began in 1994 on the east Maui population. Virtually no information exists for the Lanai population, but it can only be presumed that their life history closely matched that of the Maui population. Found primarily in wet montane forest dominated by the ohi'a tree (Metrosideros polymorpha), where it forages for a wide variety of arthropods among leaves, branches, or on the bark of tree trunks. Its primary feeding behavior is to creep along in the manner of nuthatches or creepers. Only two published records of nests prior to 1994 but now known to nest during April and May and to build a typical cup-like nest among leafy branches.

Threats
Suspected to be highly susceptible to avian malaria and pox, which would eliminate populations from lower elevation habitats where they were formerly common. Destruction of habit by feral ungulates seems to be a serious threat, especially in the case of Lanai where goats, cattle, sheep, and pigs had almost completely destroyed native forests by 1997. Population on east Maui is heavily impacted by depredation of eggs and nestlings by introduced mammals.

Conservation
Occurs on lands owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii (Waikamoi Preserve), state of Hawaii (Hanawi Natural Area Preserve), and Haleakala National Park where intensive management efforts are underway. Fencing projects in east Maui, along with elimination of feral ungulates, holds promise of reforesting previously degraded habitat once used by the Maui `Alauahio. Restoration of higher elevation habitats holds the best promise for assisting this species because such sites are largely absent of disease-bearing mosquitoes.

What Can You Do?
Join Hawaii Audubon Society. A chapter of National Audubon, the Hawaii Audubon Society works to protect and educate people about Hawaii's birds. For more information visit http://www.audubon.org/states/hi

Support efforts to control feral animals and invasive plants and insects on Maui and throughout the Hawaiian Islands. For more information visit: http://www.hear.org/

Support efforts like the East Maui Watershed Partnership to protect native forest habitat on Maui by state and federal agencies and conservation organizations.

References
Baker, H., and P. E. Baker. 2000. Maui `Alauahio (Paroreomyza montana). In The Birds of North America, No. 504 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologist's Union, Washington, D.C.

BirdLife International. 2000. Threatened Birds of the World. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona and Cambridge, UK.

BirdLife International (2006) Species factsheet: Paroreomyza montana, Maui 'Alauahio http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=8915&m=0

Pratt, H. D. et. al. 1987. A Field Guide to the Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific. Princeton UP, Princeton, New Jersey.