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Oahu Amakihi
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Surveys And Population Data For Oahu's 5 Native Forest Bird Species In 1976-1981, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted systematic surveys of forest birds and plant communities on all of the main Hawaiian Islands except Oahu as part of the Hawaii Forest Bird Surveys . Results of this monumental effort have guided conservation efforts and provided the basis for many plant and bird recovery plans and land acquisition decisions in Hawaii during the past two decades. O`ahu was not included in the Hawai`i Forest Bird Survey of 1991 because of the "low densities of native birds" and because an extensive survey had been conducted by Shallenberger and Vaughn in 1975. The 1994-1996 Hawai`i Rare Bird Search also did not include Oahu. Historical And Current Range And Status Of Oahu Amakihi Found only on the island of Oahu, where it once occurred throught the island but is now found only in the Ko'olau and Wai'anae Mountains. Within those areas it utilizes a wide variety of forests with both native and introduced species. Able to maintain populations at lower elevations than other native Hawaiian passerines, even being found in suburban yards and parks and in highly disturbed areas with large populations of introduced birds. It is thought that this species is expanding into low elevations and repopulating portions of its former range, perhaps by developing resistance to avian malaria and pox. Preliminary analyses of Audubon Christmas Bird Count data show a decline in abundance of the species since the early 1980's. In 1991 the Hawaii Department of Forestry and Wildlife conducted a forest bird survey on Oahu. They estimated a population of 20,000-60,000 Amakihi. Remaining Population Unknown  |
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