WELCOME TO THE HART LAB



Meet the Native & Endemic
Birds of Hawaiˊi



Enjoy photos and learn about the ecology and unique vocalizations of each species!



ˊAkiapōlaˊāu



ˊAkiapōlaˊāu (Hemignathus wilsoni) are Endangered and live in native forests. They are sometimes referred to as the “Hawaiian woodpecker” because they use the sturdy bottom half of their bill to peck holes into bark. We are looking at whether the different populations around the island have different song dialects.



ˊALALĀ



ˊAlalā (Corvus hawaiiensis) are listed as Extinct in the wild, but have recently been introduced back into the wild, and then back into captivity once more. Past graduate student, Ann Tanimoto-Johnson first documented and categorized their repertoire in captivity and compared it to their past repertoire in the 90's with the last remaining wild pairs. Past graduate student, Robert Justice then studied their vocalizations and behaviors when they were reintroduced into the wild in 2017. ˊAlalā research is ongoing, and we are studying how their “language” has changed since they have been in captivity, and how it may change again as they become re-established in the wild and everything in between.



ˊApapane



ˊApapane (Himatione sanguinea) live in native ˊōhiˊa forests. They move widely across the landscape in search of nectar, and appear to change their songs to fit with the local dialect as they move through. Graduate student, Paulo Ditzel is studying their vocalizations and behaviors as well as the biology and purposes of their amazing wing flutter.



Hawaiˊi ˊAkepa



Hawaiˊi ˊAkepa (Loxops coccineus coccineus) are Endangered and use their unique crossbill to pry open leaf buds to capture insects. Automated recorders at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge above the UH campus help us understand how their singing rate varies throughout the year.



Hawaiˊi ˊAmakihi



Hawaiˊi ˊAmakihi Chlorodrepanis virens live in native ˊōhiˊa forests and consume mainly nectar and insects. Joshua Pang-Ching, a previous graduate student in our lab, showed that their song is different as you move across Hawaiˊi island.



ˊAlawi (Hawaiˊi Creeper)



ˊAlawi (Oreomystis mana) are Endangered and live in native ˊohiˊa and koa forests. They forage for food by “creeping” up and down branches, flecking off the bark in search for larvae and insects to eat.



Hawaiˊi ˊElepaio



Hawaiˊi ˊElepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis) are listed as a Vulnerable species. They are our native flycatcher, eating mainly insects and spiders. These little birds are very curious, and may even follow hikers, vocalizing squeaky calls while flitting their tails up and down.



ˊIˊiwi



ˊIˊiwi (Vestiaria coccinea) have long decurved bills, specially adapted for drinking nectar from native tubular flowers. TCBES graduate student Angela Beck found that the song repertoire of each individual is different.



ˊŌmaˊo



ˊŌmaˊo (Myadestes obscurus) are a native thrush and are listed as a Vulnerable species. These frugivores play an important role in our native ecosystem as seed dispersers. TCBES graduate students Nicole Fernandez and Erin Netoskie are finding that every ˊŌmaˊo has a unique song repertoire.



PALILA



• Palila (Loxioides bailleui) are Critically Endangered and live in the subalpine zone of Mauna Kea. Palila use their hooked bills to open green māmane seed pods. Students are currently recording individual birds housed in Keauhou Bird Conservation Center and will study how their vocalizations change when they are released in the wild. Current graduate student, Lisa Mason is studying and categorizing the vocal repertoire in the remaining wild population.



HAKALAU Forest SOUNDSCAPE



The Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area on the Big Island of Hawaiˊi on Maunakea. It is filled with native honeycreepers, including several of the endangered forest birds. The LOHE Lab has been conducting a long-term bioacoustic monitoring project across the refuge using passive acoustic recorders.



'ua'u



The 'ua'u or Hawaiian Petrel (Pterodroma sandwichensis), is a federally endangered native seabird. They fly in from the sea at night to take care of their chicks in burrows they excavate underground. We are using radar and automated song recorders to determine the locations of nests at high elevations on Maunakea.



ˊakēˊakē



The ˊakēˊakē or Band-rumped Storm Petrel (Oceanodroma castro), is listed as endangered, and is one of the rarest and smallest seabird that breeds in Hawai’i. Colonies nest in burrows on Hawaii Island at the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and on the slopes of Mauna Loa and we’re hoping to find an ‘ake'ake population on Maunakea.



ˊŌpeˊapeˊa



ˊŌpeˊapeˊa or Hawaiian Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus) is our only native land mammal. They are nocturnal and may be found roosting in trees and not in caves. We are using automated recorders to determine the distribution of these bats at high elevations on Maunakea.



Photo Credits:

Jim Denny: 'Ua'u, 'Ake'ake

USGS: 'Ope'ape'a

Bret Mossman: Hawai'i 'elepaio

Ann Tanimoto-Johnson: Akiapola'au, 'Alala, 'Apapane, 'Alawi, Hawai'i 'amakihi, 'I'iwi, 'Omao, and Palila




CONTACT:
Patrick J. Hart
Professor, Dept. of Biology
E-mail: 
pjhart@hawaii.edu
Phone: (808) 932-7182

Fax: (808) 932-7295

Office: Sciences and Technology Building (STB), Room 115