Hawaiian forest Bird Concentrations

Hawaiian High Islands Ecoregion
This page last revised 05 January 2009 -- S.M.Gon III

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Viability of forest bird concentrations were derived from recent assessments by the USGS/BRD.

'I'iwi on koli'i
Forest birds contribute to vital ecological processes, such as pollination

'Elepaio, a Hawaiian flycatcher, is a member of the forest bird concentration.

Hawaiian Forest Bird Concentrations

The distinctive avifauna associated with Hawaiian forests are celebrated in books and articles on insular evolution (e.g. Wagner & Funk 1995, Pratt et al 2005). The forest birds of Hawai‘i include not only the endemic Hawaiian honeycreepers (Family Fringillidae, Subfamily Drepanidinae), but other groups such as Hawaiian thrushes, and flycatchers.

Hawaiian honeycreeper bill diversity -- H.D. Pratt

Forest bird concentrations as conservation targets were defined as any assemblage of six or more viable endemic forest bird species occupying an area of greater than 5 square kilometers. When the distribution and densities of forest birds were assessed across the ecoregion (e.g., Gorresen et al, 2005), seven concentrations emerged.

(continued next column)

Hawaiian Forest Bird Concentrations

Forest bird concentrations occur on three islands, and three out of four stratification units. The majority of the concentrations are found on Hawai‘i Island, reflecting the large remaining expanses of forest habitat there. Forest bird concentrations typically occupy the montane wet and montane mesic ecological systems, sometimes extending across conservation area boundaries. Not surprisingly, islands lacking substantial montane ecological systems do not support viable forest bird concentrations. The conservation areas bearing forest bird concentrations are listed below.

KAUAI STRATIFICATION UNIT
Kaua‘i

O‘AHU STRATIFICATION UNIT
[none]

MAUI NUI STRATIFICATION UNIT
East Maui

HAWAI‘I STRATIFICATION UNIT
Mauna Kea
Windward Mauna Loa
Ka‘u - Kapapala
Kona
Pohakuloa - Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a

See maps below

More information on the forest bird concentrations, such as the specific bird species in each concetration and data summarizing trends in population, is available in the Conservation Planning Tool database.

'I'iwi, Vestiaria coccinea. Photo: TNC archives

The song of the ‘i‘iwi (Vestiaria coccinea) is as distinctive as its appearence.

KAUA‘I STRATIFICATION UNIT
Forest Bird Concentration, Island of Kauai

The forest bird concentration on Kaua‘i is restricted to montane wet and montane mesic portions of the central Alaka‘i plateau.

MAUI NUI STRATIFICATION UNIT
maui forest bird concentration

The forest bird concentration on Maui occupies the montane wet and montane mesic bands across windward East Maui.

HAWAI‘I STRATIFICATION UNIT
HAWAII FOREST BIRD CONCENTRATION AREAS

There are four forest bird concentrations on the island of Hawai‘i. The largest of these straddles the Mauna Kea and Windward Mauna Loa Conservation Areas.
The next largest occupies a portion of the montane wet and montane mesic ecological systems of the Ka‘u - Kapapala Conservation Area. The remaining two forest bird concentrations are much smaller, occupying a portion of the mesic forest of Hualalai volcano in the Pohakuloa - Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Conservation Area, and the other in a node of forest bird richness in the Kona Conservation Area. Note that these concentrations do not delimit all forest bird species, but represent the highest concentrations of species and foci for conservation efforts.

	Hawaiian High Islands Ecoregion This page last revised 05 January 2009 -- S.M.Gon III
Home Introduction Ecoregion Conservation Targets Viability Goals Portfolio TNC Action Sites Threats Strategies Acknowledgements ▫ Tables Maps & Figures CPT Database Appendices Glossary Sources . Viability of forest bird concentrations were derived from recent assessments by the USGS/BRD. Forest birds contribute to vital ecological processes, such as pollination 'Elepaio, a Hawaiian flycatcher, is a member of the forest bird concentration.	Hawaiian Forest Bird Concentrations The distinctive avifauna associated with Hawaiian forests are celebrated in books and articles on insular evolution (e.g. Wagner & Funk 1995, Pratt et al 2005). The forest birds of Hawai‘i include not only the endemic Hawaiian honeycreepers (Family Fringillidae, Subfamily Drepanidinae), but other groups such as Hawaiian thrushes, and flycatchers. Hawaiian honeycreeper bill diversity -- H.D. Pratt Forest bird concentrations as conservation targets were defined as any assemblage of six or more viable endemic forest bird species occupying an area of greater than 5 square kilometers. When the distribution and densities of forest birds were assessed across the ecoregion (e.g., Gorresen et al, 2005), seven concentrations emerged. (continued next column)	Hawaiian Forest Bird Concentrations Forest bird concentrations occur on three islands, and three out of four stratification units. The majority of the concentrations are found on Hawai‘i Island, reflecting the large remaining expanses of forest habitat there. Forest bird concentrations typically occupy the montane wet and montane mesic ecological systems, sometimes extending across conservation area boundaries. Not surprisingly, islands lacking substantial montane ecological systems do not support viable forest bird concentrations. The conservation areas bearing forest bird concentrations are listed below. KAUAI STRATIFICATION UNIT Kaua‘i O‘AHU STRATIFICATION UNIT [none] MAUI NUI STRATIFICATION UNIT East Maui HAWAI‘I STRATIFICATION UNIT Mauna Kea Windward Mauna Loa Ka‘u - Kapapala Kona Pohakuloa - Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a See maps below More information on the forest bird concentrations, such as the specific bird species in each concetration and data summarizing trends in population, is available in the Conservation Planning Tool database. The song of the ‘i‘iwi (Vestiaria coccinea) is as distinctive as its appearence.

	KAUA‘I STRATIFICATION UNIT The forest bird concentration on Kaua‘i is restricted to montane wet and montane mesic portions of the central Alaka‘i plateau. MAUI NUI STRATIFICATION UNIT The forest bird concentration on Maui occupies the montane wet and montane mesic bands across windward East Maui. HAWAI‘I STRATIFICATION UNIT There are four forest bird concentrations on the island of Hawai‘i. The largest of these straddles the Mauna Kea and Windward Mauna Loa Conservation Areas. The next largest occupies a portion of the montane wet and montane mesic ecological systems of the Ka‘u - Kapapala Conservation Area. The remaining two forest bird concentrations are much smaller, occupying a portion of the mesic forest of Hualalai volcano in the Pohakuloa - Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Conservation Area, and the other in a node of forest bird richness in the Kona Conservation Area. Note that these concentrations do not delimit all forest bird species, but represent the highest concentrations of species and foci for conservation efforts.