Hawaiian Waterbird Concentrations

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

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Hawaiian gallinule, an endangered waterbird

Waterbirds comprise a unique conservation target based on geospatial concentrations of species with special threats and management needs.

Alae ke'oke'o
Waterbirds, such as this ‘alae ke‘oke‘o, are key indicators of wetland quality, although some species are more tolerant of habitat disturbance.

Hawaiian Waterbird Concentrations

The avifauna associated with Hawaiian wetlands have suffered a history of habitat destruction, so that all native waterbird species and subspecies are now considered threatened or endangered (USFWS 2005). The endangered Hawaiian waterbirds include the Hawaiian stilt (‘ae‘o, Himantopus mexicanus knudseni), Hawaiian coot (‘alae ke‘oke‘o, Fulica alai), Hawaiian duck (koloa, Anas wyvilliana), and Hawaiian moorhen (‘alae ‘ula, Gallinula chloropus sandvicensis).

‘Ae‘o, or Hawaiian stilts (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni) are one of the
more resilient of our endangered waterbird species.

Waterbird concentrations as conservation targets were defined as any assemblage of indigenous and endemic waterbird species occupying a wetland area recognized by state and federal conservation agencies. When the distribution and densities of waterbirds were assessed across the ecoregion, concentrations emerged on the islands of Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Moloka‘i, Maui, and Hawai‘i.

(continued next column)

Hawaiian Waterbird Concentrations

Waterbird concentrations involve all stratification units. The concentrations are well-distributed among islands. Most wetland sites occur at coastal and lowland elevations, and the vast majority are not dominated by native vegetation. Fortunately, waterbird species don't seem to require native wetland vegetation.

Thus the conservation areas defined by waterbird concentrations typically lie outside of, and typically at lower elevations than native ecological systems, and do not overlap with the conservation areas defined by viable ecological systems.

We selected for the ecoregion portfolio 44 wetland sites identified in the USFWS Waterbird Recovery Plan as "protected and primary wetland habitats," all of which must be protected and managed before any waterbird species can be considered "recovered." This includes 16 core and 28 of 37 (75%) of supporting wetland occurrences.

Maps of the Hawaiian waterbird concentrations included in the ecoreional portfolio, are available via the Hawaiian endangered waterbird recovery plan (USFWS 2005). The islands bearing portfolio waterbird concentrations are listed below.

KAUAI STRATIFICATION UNIT
Ni‘ihau & Kaua‘i Islands
(5 core wetlands + 7 of 9 supporting wetlands)

O‘AHU STRATIFICATION UNIT
O‘ahu Island
(5 core wetlands + 10 of 13 supporting wetlands)

MAUI NUI STRATIFICATION UNIT
Maui, Moloka‘i & Lāna‘i Islands
(3 core wetlands + 5 of 7 supporting wetlands)

HAWAI‘I STRATIFICATION UNIT
Hawai‘i Island
(3 core wetlands + 6 of 8 supporting wetlands)

See maps of the wetlands below. More information on the waterbird concentrations, such as the specific bird species in each and data summarizing population trends, is available in the Conservation Planning Tool database.

KAUA‘I STRATIFICATION UNIT:
WBC Kauai

The five core wetlands of Kauai (shown in red above) are Lumaha‘i Valley, Hanalei taro fields and river, Hanalei NWR, Huleia NWR,
and Kawaiele Sanctuary. There are also numerous supporting wetlands (yellow).

waterbirds niihau

The playa lakes of Ni‘ihau comprise a core waterbird site.

O‘AHU STRATIFICATION UNIT:
waterbirds Oahu

The five core wetlands of O‘ahu (red) are Pearl Harbor NWR, Pouhala Marsh, Kawainui Marsh, Nu‘upia ponds, and the James Campbell NWR. There are also numerous supporting wetlands (yellow)

MAUI NUI STRATIFICATION UNIT:
waterbird maui

Two of the three core sites of the Maui Nui Startification Unit occur on Maui, at Kanaha Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, and Kealia Pond NWR.

waterbirds Molokai

Moloka‘i includes one of the three core wetlands of the Maui Nui Stratification Unit: Kakahai‘a NWR.

waterbirds lanai

Lāna‘i island includes one small supporting site in the Maui Nui Stratification Unit.

HAWAI‘I STRATIFICATION UNIT:
waterbirds kohala

The Kohala Conservation Area includes no core wetlands, only supporting wetlands.

waterbirds kona

The Kona Conservation Area includes the core site ‘Aimakapā/Kaloho Ponds.

waterbirds Mauna Kea

The Hilo region includes two core sites: Waiākea and Loko Waka. Ke‘anae is a supporting site.

	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 . Waterbirds comprise a unique conservation target based on geospatial concentrations of species with special threats and management needs. Waterbirds, such as this ‘alae ke‘oke‘o, are key indicators of wetland quality, although some species are more tolerant of habitat disturbance.	Hawaiian Waterbird Concentrations The avifauna associated with Hawaiian wetlands have suffered a history of habitat destruction, so that all native waterbird species and subspecies are now considered threatened or endangered (USFWS 2005). The endangered Hawaiian waterbirds include the Hawaiian stilt (‘ae‘o, Himantopus mexicanus knudseni), Hawaiian coot (‘alae ke‘oke‘o, Fulica alai), Hawaiian duck (koloa, Anas wyvilliana), and Hawaiian moorhen (‘alae ‘ula, Gallinula chloropus sandvicensis). ‘Ae‘o, or Hawaiian stilts (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni) are one of the more resilient of our endangered waterbird species. Waterbird concentrations as conservation targets were defined as any assemblage of indigenous and endemic waterbird species occupying a wetland area recognized by state and federal conservation agencies. When the distribution and densities of waterbirds were assessed across the ecoregion, concentrations emerged on the islands of Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Moloka‘i, Maui, and Hawai‘i. (continued next column)	Hawaiian Waterbird Concentrations Waterbird concentrations involve all stratification units. The concentrations are well-distributed among islands. Most wetland sites occur at coastal and lowland elevations, and the vast majority are not dominated by native vegetation. Fortunately, waterbird species don't seem to require native wetland vegetation. Thus the conservation areas defined by waterbird concentrations typically lie outside of, and typically at lower elevations than native ecological systems, and do not overlap with the conservation areas defined by viable ecological systems. We selected for the ecoregion portfolio 44 wetland sites identified in the USFWS Waterbird Recovery Plan as "protected and primary wetland habitats," all of which must be protected and managed before any waterbird species can be considered "recovered." This includes 16 core and 28 of 37 (75%) of supporting wetland occurrences. Maps of the Hawaiian waterbird concentrations included in the ecoreional portfolio, are available via the Hawaiian endangered waterbird recovery plan (USFWS 2005). The islands bearing portfolio waterbird concentrations are listed below. KAUAI STRATIFICATION UNIT Ni‘ihau & Kaua‘i Islands (5 core wetlands + 7 of 9 supporting wetlands) O‘AHU STRATIFICATION UNIT O‘ahu Island (5 core wetlands + 10 of 13 supporting wetlands) MAUI NUI STRATIFICATION UNIT Maui, Moloka‘i & Lāna‘i Islands (3 core wetlands + 5 of 7 supporting wetlands) HAWAI‘I STRATIFICATION UNIT Hawai‘i Island (3 core wetlands + 6 of 8 supporting wetlands) See maps of the wetlands below. More information on the waterbird concentrations, such as the specific bird species in each and data summarizing population trends, is available in the Conservation Planning Tool database.

	KAUA‘I STRATIFICATION UNIT: The five core wetlands of Kauai (shown in red above) are Lumaha‘i Valley, Hanalei taro fields and river, Hanalei NWR, Huleia NWR, and Kawaiele Sanctuary. There are also numerous supporting wetlands (yellow). The playa lakes of Ni‘ihau comprise a core waterbird site. O‘AHU STRATIFICATION UNIT: The five core wetlands of O‘ahu (red) are Pearl Harbor NWR, Pouhala Marsh, Kawainui Marsh, Nu‘upia ponds, and the James Campbell NWR. There are also numerous supporting wetlands (yellow) MAUI NUI STRATIFICATION UNIT: Two of the three core sites of the Maui Nui Startification Unit occur on Maui, at Kanaha Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, and Kealia Pond NWR. Moloka‘i includes one of the three core wetlands of the Maui Nui Stratification Unit: Kakahai‘a NWR. Lāna‘i island includes one small supporting site in the Maui Nui Stratification Unit. HAWAI‘I STRATIFICATION UNIT: The Kohala Conservation Area includes no core wetlands, only supporting wetlands. The Kona Conservation Area includes the core site ‘Aimakapā/Kaloho Ponds. The Hilo region includes two core sites: Waiākea and Loko Waka. Ke‘anae is a supporting site.