Conservation and Management

‘Akeke‘e probably affected more by indirect than by direct human activity at present, but development in Ko¯ke‘e region reduces amount of habitat available and increases breeding sites for mosquitoes. More importantly, continued introduction of alien plants and animals, particularly in Ko¯ke‘e area, degrades available habitat and increases potential for predation. To the extent that introduced plants displace native ‘o¯hi‘a, spread of alien plants into Alaka‘i region will likely continue to degrade habitat. Disease probably restricts ‘Akeke‘e to higher forests, where mosquito vectors are usually rare. Introduction of new vectors could seriously affect population by spreading diseases. Past human activity has adversely affected ‘Akeke‘e (and continues to do so) through habitat destruction, both directly through forest-clearing and logging, and indirectly through introduced pigs, goats (Capra hircus), and deer (Odocoileus hemionus); introduced mosquitoes, particularly Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes albopictus, as disease vectors (see Demography and populations: disease and body parasites, above; introduced yellow jackets and ants as competitors for arthropod prey (see Demography and populations: population regulation, above); introduced birds as potential competitors and reservoirs of disease; introduced rats as nest predators; and introduced cats (Felis catus) and Barn Owls as predators on adults.

Conservation Status

At present, no special species-specific management needs are apparent, but like other Kaua‘i endemics, long-term survival of ‘Akeke‘e depends on preservation of large tracts of native forest, particularly ‘o¯hi‘a. Appears to tolerate considerable habitat disturbance in some areas if sufficient ‘o¯hi‘a remains: ‘Akeke‘e still forage frequently in isolated ‘o¯hi‘a trees in open parklike area in Ko¯ke‘e region and in roadside forests near Kalalau Valley lookouts (Pratt 1993 Pratt, H. D. (1993). Enjoying birds in Hawaii: a birdfinding guide to the fiftieth state. Honolulu: Mutual Publishing. Close ) in Ko¯ke‘e State Park, but these birds may only be wanderers from more extensive forests. Possible spread of disease-carrying mosquitoes into native forests probably poses greatest long-term threat to survival.

Measures Proposed And Taken

Much of current range protected to some extent by Ko¯ke‘e State Park, where there is considerable habitat alteration in many areas, and Alaka‘i Wilderness Preserve (State of Hawaii). As with other native forest birds, vigilance is essential to prevent additional introductions of noxious plants, disease vectors, potential predators, and alien birds. For example, temperate mosquitoes could thrive at the higher elevations (where mosquitoes are now usually rare) and spread lethal diseases to susceptible populations (see also Demography and populations: disease and body parasites, above), and the brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis), which has caused the extinction of almost every native bird species on Guam I. (Savidge 1987 Savidge, J. A. (1987). Extinction of an island forest avifauna by an introduced snake. Ecology 68:660-668. Close ) has already been captured several times near Hawaiian harbors and airports.

Attempts to restore degraded habitat would also be of value, but efforts to prevent further habitat degradation will probably be the most effective in maintaining this species.