Social behavior is often overlooked in conservation biology. Song is one of the most important social behaviors in birds and is generally considered to be a culturally transmitted trait that is passed between parents and offspring and among neighbors. Song is also very important to territoriality, reproductive success, and social cohesion. Examining the ways song and other social behaviors vary within and among populations across the landscape and over time is a major current area of research in our lab, as outlined in more detail below

Understanding the relationship between habitat variables and bird distribution and abundance in Hawaii is a major area of research in the lab. Most recently, we have been collaborating with other researchers to develop new bioacoustic and analytical techniques to improve our ability to monitor bird populations across the landscape and over time.

Understanding the relationship between habitat variables and bird distribution and abundance in Hawaii is a major area of research in the lab. Most recently, we have been collaborating with other researchers to develop new bioacoustic and analytical techniques to improve our ability to monitor bird populations across the landscape and over time.

Mosquito transmitted disease has had major impacts on the distribution and abundance of Hawaiian Honeycreepers. It is critical to gain a better understanding of the complex relationship between mosquito abundance, transmission, non-native ungulates, and bird movement patterns in relation to food availability in order to develop appropriate management strategies to save the remaining honeycreeper species. Please click the button below or the the “publications” section of this website for links to relevant manuscripts.

In collaboration with the UH Office of Maunakea Management, the Hart Lab maintains a Furuno radar array that is mounted on one of our lab vehicles. This system is able to detect all flying objects ranging in size from moths to large birds from up to 1.5 km away. We are very interested in using the radar to detect areas on Maunakea where seabirds are returning to their high elevation nests at night. We are also interested in improving our understanding of high elevation foraging locations of native Hawaiian bats.