Federal government lists 8 Hawaiian birds as extinct
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is delisting 21 species — including eight Hawaii bird species — from the Endangered Species Act due to extinction.
USFWS officials said Monday that based on rigorous reviews of the “best available science” for each species, it has determined they are extinct. Most were likely already extinct when listed in the 1970s and 1980s as endangered, they said.
ADVERTISING
The eight bird species, all forest honeycreepers, include the Kauai akialoa, Kauai nukupuu, Kauai oo, or large Kauai thrush, Maui akepa, Maui nukupuu, Molokai creeper and poouli, also known as the black-faced honeycreeper.
“Federal protection came too late to reverse these species’ decline, and it’s a wake-up call on the importance of conserving imperiled species before it’s too late,” said service Director Martha Williams in a news release. “As we commemorate 50 years of the Endangered Species Act this year, we are reminded of the act’s purpose to be a safety net that stops the journey toward extinction. The ultimate goal is to recover these species, so they no longer need the act’s protection.”
The USFWS did not end up removing Phyllostegia glabra var. lanaiensis, a flowering plant from the mint family that was proposed for removal along with the birds in 2021, because it might still survive.
“Most of these extinct birds are Hawaiian species that were unique to those islands,” said Michael Parr, president of the American Bird Conservancy, in a statement. “It’s a tremendous loss. Their ESA listings happened too late for their protection and recovery. Sadly, this tragic outcome could have been prevented if actions to conserve their habitats had been taken sooner.”
