The Hawai‘i Wildlife Center Archived News
Endangered Koloa Need Help
By Courtney Rader, With Linda Elliott and Kim Uyehara
Kohala Mountain News, May 31, 2008
The Koloa duck is a seriously endangered species that
is struggling to survive here in North Kohala. That’s the bad news.
The good news is we can help reverse the extinction trend.
The Koloa
maoli (Hawaiian Duck) is a federal and state-listed endangered species,
and the opportunity exists right here in Kohala to help increase
the numbers of the Koloa in the wild. Nearly all endemic Hawaiian birds
are listed as endangered, but with a concerted community effort, the Koloa’s
circumstances may be reversible.
The Koloa maoli nest in natural and artificial wetland habitats from
sea level to 10,000 feet elevation and usually shy away from areas
frequented by humans. At first glance the Koloa appear to resemble the
non-native Mallard, but the Koloa is 20-30 percent smaller, sleeker, with
darker feathers and a darker bill. In addition to introduced predators
(including mongoose, cats, and dogs) and rapidly shrinking habitat areas,
the largest threat to the survival of the Koloa maoli is hybridization
with the Mallard and potential genetic extinction as a result.
Most island residents are familiar with the negative impact invasive species—such as miconia, the stinging nettle caterpillar, and coqui frogs—have had in the state of Hawaii. The national annual cost in dealing with invasive species is an estimated $137 billion to repair the damage to natural resources and property. In the last 200 years, Hawaii has become home to more than 5,000 species of non-native plants and animals, and the consequences have been devastating to Hawaii’s endangered species.
Non-native Mallards were originally introduced to be pets or ornamentals on private ponds, but their significant survival rate in the wild means that they can out-compete the native Koloa species. Mating between non-native Mallards and Koloa and the interbreeding of their hybrid offspring may ultimately lead to the loss of Hawaii’s true Koloa maoli.
Habitat
is Key
To help in the statewide effort to protect the disappearing habitat
of the Koloa, New Moon Foundation has partnered with the Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), through the Wetlands Reserve
Program, to create an artificial wetland habitat that includes three ponds
on the upper `Iole Ahupua`a. NRCS has as its mission “helping people
help the land,” and
works with individuals and organizations to protect, enhance, and
preserve the Koloa and their habitat using science and expertise.
New Moon Foundation’s dedicated Koloa habitat is currently a work in progress. It encompasses approximately 17 acres and three ponds. Each pond is of a different depth and size with shelves and shallows built in to support several native plant species brought in by Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Gardens. Kim Uyehara, a wildlife biologist, sees promoting habitat for the Koloa as an essential step for the future.
“Little is known about the rare and secretive Koloa, so there is a significant amount to learn,” Uyehara stated after a recent planting at the Koloa habitat. “If we lose the Koloa, we lose our last endemic duck in the main islands. Koloa occupies an ecological niche, or a role in the ecosystem, that no other bird can claim as it maneuvers wetlands and river corridors mauka to makai. It’s also just a very cool island duck.”
How To Help
The plight of the endangered Koloa is also being addressed by the
Hawaii Wildlife Center (HWC). Linda Elliott, HWC’s director, seeks
to educate and encourage community members to bring native Hawaiian
species back into our neighborhoods. Elliott says it’s absolutely
feasible to protect and increase native species, and there are accessible
tools people can use to help reverse extinction trends. Elliott suggests
volunteering at a habitat development or creating a native wildlife habitat
in one’s
own backyard to help native species rebound. Community members can
establish a native plant garden or construct a partial wetland habitat
to aid in the preservation effort.
The HWC is the first and only emergency response
center for wildlife conservation in the state of Hawaii. Another
major aim of HWC is promoting the preservation of Hawaiian cultural connections
to the environment. Through public outreach, research and education,
HWC seeks to raise awareness in the Kohala community and statewide of how
individuals can have a positive impact on native Hawaiian species.
“This is an exciting time to be a part of something like the Koloa duck ponds project because it’s an opportunity to work with the community and scientists interested in bridging the gap between Hawaii’s past and future,” Elliott says.
In an effort to raise public awareness of the Koloa and in partnership with the Hawaii Wildlife Center, New Moon Foundation will host a hike and tour of its three Koloa duck ponds on Saturday June 7th. The hike and tour will begin at 9 a.m. at 53-496 `Iole Road in Kapa`au. Call New Moon Foundation at (808) 889-0615 for more information or to sign up by Friday June 6th. Space is limited, and a $10.00 suggested donation will go to benefit the construction of the Hawaii Wildlife Center.
The New Moon Foundation’s goals for its
project are to respect the needs of the Koloa; learn how to behave around
the secretive, cautious animals; and try to protect them. For those interested,
there may also be volunteer opportunities available to work on the duck
ponds to help the foundation learn the Koloa’s patterns and habits
and create a successful habitat.
For the actual article in PDF format, please click below:
Endangered Koloa Need Help
Kohala Mountain News, May 31, 2008
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