Conservation Group Pushes Feds To Set Habitat For Hawaii’s Endangered Iiwi Bird

[UngulateNerd92]

The species, like many of Hawaii’s other remaining forest birds, has been decimated by mosquito-borne diseases.

Hawaii’s iconic iiwi, a honeycreeper bird known for its bright-red plumage, could go extinct in the coming decades without a designated, critical habitat for its numbers to recover.

On Tuesday, the Center for Biological Diversity filed its intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to designate that habitat.

The iiwi used to be one of the most abundant forest birds in Hawaii, according the nonprofit conservation group’s filing with federal officials Tuesday. Now, it’s found on just three islands and threatened to go extinct by 2050, the filing stated.

In fact, the iiwi is among the 17 remaining forest bird species poised for extinction in the islands if no action is taken to help their numbers recover. One of the main culprits in their demise are invasive, disease carrying mosquitos introduced to Hawaii. Avian malaria has decimated Hawaii’s honeycreepers and other forest bird populations.

Conservation Group Pushes Feds To Set Habitat For Hawaii's Endangered Iiwi Bird

 

[birdsandbats]

I heard there was a plan recently to get rid of mosquitoes from Hawaii - the sooner this happens the better.

 

[UngulateNerd92]

I heard there was a plan recently to get rid of mosquitoes from Hawaii - the sooner this happens the better.

I wasn't aware of the mosquito eradication program, but I am not surprised. That should be very helpful for them!

 

[birdsandbats]

I wasn't aware of the mosquito eradication program, but I am not surprised. That should be very helpful for them!

There is the problem of the plant species in the Hawaiian lowlands being almost entirely exotics, but if mosquitoes are eradicated and some restoration work is done all of the Hawaiian honeycreepers could have a bright future ahead of them.

 

[UngulateNerd92]

There is the problem of the plant species in the Hawaiian lowlands being almost entirely exotics, but if mosquitoes are eradicated and some restoration work is done all of the Hawaiian honeycreepers could have a bright future ahead of them.

Non-native plant removal would also be pivotal! One thing I would like to start seeing is habitat restoration projects being a part of economic stimulus packages going into the future. It would be a great way to mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss, but also create jobs.

 

[birdsandbats]

I think tax benefits to houses with plantings of native plants would also go a long way.

 

[UngulateNerd92]

I think tax benefits to houses with plantings of native plants would also go a long way.

That could be a good policy in any US state actually, especially those that are major biodiversity hot spots.

 

[birdsandbats]

That could be a good policy in any US state actually, especially those that are major biodiversity hot spots.

I couldn't agree more.