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Paradise Lost
Paradise to a "snowbird" is vacationing on a tropical island, with lush green vegetation, azure blue seas, and exotic birds filling the air with song from the first break of day to the surrendering light of dusk.
    We west coast vacationers may say that such paradise is found on one or all of the Hawaiian islands. Flying over the vast Pacific Ocean, one arrives at a Hawaiian airport and is greeted by beautiful natives who reach over your head, gifting you with a colorful lei of fragrant, native flowers. "Aloha." Ahh, yes, you have arrived on the paradise island.
    But paradise isn't always as exotically charming as it first appears. Well, maybe to the brief visitor, but not to the native birds. Specifically the Palila (Loxioides bailleui), an endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper. Because of its dramatic decline in numbers in such a short period of time, it has had the longest history of monitoring of any of Hawai'i's forest birds.
palila    The Palila is increasingly becoming restricted to the west slope of Mauna Kea, occupying less than 5% of its historical range. Palila depend on mamane (Sophora chrysophylla) forest for the majority of their dietary intake as well as for nesting sites and shelter. The quantity and quality of this dry subalpine mamane woodland has declined over many decades due the grazing pressure of introduced herbivores but is beginning to recover in many areas where ungulate numbers have been reduced.

   However, despite improving habitat conditions, the palila has not increased in numbers. Restoration techniques are needed in order to speed the recovery of the palila population and return it to areas of its historic range, thus preventing extinction due to catastrophic events. These techniques are being developed through population monitoring, habitat management research, translocation, and breeding enhancement.

Parts of this article were excepted from USGS BRD Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center

IN THE NEWS:

LOCAL
Next General Meeting of the Audubon Society of Lincoln City is scheduled for July 6, 2009 at 5:30pm. Public welcomed.
REGIONAL
Salem Audubon Chapter seeks new
Executive Director
With the retirement of their current Executive Director, Salem Audubon Society is seeking a new director. For additional information, go to audubons.qwestoffice.net or email davidlichter@comcast.net.

NATIONAL
Audubon Magazine's
1st Photography Awards Program
Sponsored by Nikon and in association with Nature's Best Photography, Audubon Magazine is calling for entries to participate in its first photography awards program. You can enter up to 10 bird images, giving you 10 chances to win. Winning entries will appear in the Jan-Feb issue of Audubon Magazine. Deadline for entries is July 15, 2009. For more details, go to: www.audubonmagazinephotoawards.org.