Indicate which actions have been carried out to implement this Resolution :
Convene stakeholders/Networking
Education/Communication/Raising awareness
Field activities
Policy influencing/advocacy
Scientific/technical activities
Describe the results/achievements of the actions taken:
• Strategic conservation actions are underway for a suite of Hawai‘i forest birds following the recommendations in existing planning documents. These include:
o Nihoa Millerbird – translocations of millerbirds from Nihoa to Laysan Island in 2011 and 2012 have resulted in establishment of a second breeding population for this single island endemic. Surveys in 2017 suggest that the global population has increased by at least 30%.
o Palila – nearly 13,000 native trees were planted in 2018 to restore and expand Palila habitat. The ungulate excluding fence was maintained to keep ungulate numbers at very low densities in Palila critical habitat. Annual population counts were conducted, but the population continues to decline and is down to approximately 1,000 birds remaining in the wild.
o Maui Parrotbill (Kiwikiu) – A site within Nakula Natural Area Reserve, on leeward Maui has been restored to support a translocated parrotbill population. Parrotbill will be translocated from Hanawi Natural Area Reserve along with individuals from the captive population in fall 2019 with hopes of establishing a new population.
o Kaua‘i –Puaiohi, ‘Akeke‘e and ‘Akikiki – extensive predator control is underway across the accessible habitat for these three species, in an attempt to reduce nest loss to rats. ‘Akeke‘e and ‘Akikiki eggs have been harvested to create a captive breeding population.
o ‘Alalā – The third Alala releases occurred in September/October 2018. Eleven individuals were released in two cohorts three weeks apart – growing the release population to 21 overall. Unfortunately, there was one mortality this year, but the other birds are surviving well, and moving among the native forest.
o ‘Akepa, ‘Akiapola‘au, Hawai‘i Creeper, ‘i‘iwi - Extensive progress has been made in fencing and pig control in Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge. Removing pigs improves forest quality and reduces disease transmission by eliminating mosquito breeding sites created by pig activity.
• Conservation actions for seabirds in Hawaii with an emphasis on the three endemic Hawaiian seabirds are proceeding.
o Translocations of Hawaiian Petrel and Newell’s Shearwater into a predator proof fenced area at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge continue, with 100% fledging success of healthy translocated chicks.
o Three sea-level rise (SLR) vulnerable seabird species were translocated to a predator proof enclosure at James Campbell NWR. Bonin petrels, Tristram’s storm-petrels and Black-footed albatross were all moved from vulnerable locations in Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument to this SLR resilient site on Oahu with hopes of establishing new breeding populations.
o New predator proof fences are proposed on Kaua‘i, Lāna‘i, Maui and Moloka‘i to protect seabirds and all have the potential to benefit Newell’s Shearwater and Hawaiian Petrel to varying degrees.
o Newell’s shearwater and Hawaiian petrel have been rediscovered on Oahu. While nesting has not been confirmed, ground calling and seasonal presence during the breeding period at remote locations in the Waianae and Ko’olau ranges is an exciting discovery.
o The fall 2017 rat eradication on Lehua Island was unsuccessful, and efforts continue to try and complete the eradication. A successful eradication would likely benefit Newell’s Shearwater and Band-rumped Storm-Petrel.
o Planning has been completed for the invasive house mouse eradication on Midway, and efforts are underway to secure the necessary funding for implementation in 2019.
• The multi-agency effort to break the mosquito-avian disease cycle to benefit Hawai‘i’s forest birds is increasing.
o Work is ongoing to develop a Wolbachia transinfected Culex mosquitoes to suppress or eliminate this avian disease vector in Hawai‘i.
o A major multi-agency research program is underway to determine genomic variation in parasite, vector, and hosts.
o Funding has been secured to support modelling of the mosquito-bird dynamics and possible release parameters for Wolbachia transinfected Culex mosquitoes. This will begin in fall 2019.
o Communications, outreach, and engagement with the public and other stakeholders has begun, but additional funding is still needed.
• Hawai‘i Governor Ige continues to be a strong advocate for biosecurity and the need to combat invasive species http://westgov.org/initiatives/biosecurity-and-invasive-species-initiative
What challenges/obstacles have been encountered in the implementation of this Resolution and how were they overcome :
• Challenges: despite on the ground advancement of species conservation in Hawai‘i significant challenges remain.
o Mosquitoes: funding to advance the research and community engagement is very limited and this is slowing down the timeline for deployment and associated conservation gains. Additionally, there is still no funding for constructing and maintaining the facilities required to rear the large numbers of Wolbachia-infected Culex mosquitoes necessary to successfully suppress wild mosquito populations at the landscape scale.
o Poor prognosis for future funding: Overall US federal conservation funding continues to be scarce, and is unlikely to improve under the current administration. Last year (FY 18) the State of the Birds funding was $3M (~65% directed to Hawai‘i), and the Hawai‘i congressional delegation is attempting to increase this amount.. A significant portion of these funds are used to support San Diego Zoo Global’s bird conservation centers on Maui and Hawai‘i in support of captive breeding programs for three endemic species including the majority of the global ‘Alalā population. If the funding is eliminated or significantly decreased these actions, and other actions critical to Hawai‘i bird conservation, will be severely impacted.
• In addition to the progress listed above it is important to note that the ‘I‘iwi was added to the US Endangered Species list in 2017 because of its declining populations. The I‘o has been proposed for delisting and a public comment period was closed at the end of 2018. The USFWS’ final determination has not yet been published.
• As of January 2019, there has not been any directed efforts by the SSC to support engagement with existing initiatives. The Reintroduction Specialist Group of the SSC has been informally supportive of translocations and conservation activities of some local groups.
Briefly describe what future actions are needed for the implementation of this Resolution:
Full implementation of the Hawai‘i Interagency Biosecurity Plan (https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/hisc/plans/hibp/) that was released by the State of Hawai‘i at the 2016 IUCN World Conservation Congress is falling short.• As of January 2019, approximately 50% of the management activities have begun, but significant funding is necessary to complete. https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/hisc/files/2019/01/January-2019-Executive-Summary.pdf
Are these actions planned for yet:
