Five ʻalalā Flourish in the Wild After Nearly Two Years on Maui

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Five ʻalalā, or Hawaiian crows, released into the Haleakala forests almost two years ago are demonstrating encouraging signs of adapting to their wild environment. According to the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project, these birds are actively foraging for natural food sources, establishing pair bonds, displaying territorial behaviors, and constructing nests.

One dominant pairing has successfully built nests for two consecutive nesting seasons, although they have yet to produce chicks. Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project Program Manager Hanna Mounce noted that having all five birds healthy and thriving in the wild nearly two years post-release is significant. While the birds initially relied on supplemental feeding stations, they are increasingly sourcing their own food, such as native fruits, insects, spiders, and small vertebrates. Despite facing adverse weather events, including recent Kona lows and Tropical Storm Lala, the flock has remained resilient. Originally planned additional releases of two more birds have been reconsidered due to the existing group’s strong territorial behaviors, indicating their maturation. The findings are informing future recovery strategies, potentially leading to more release locations on Maui and renewed efforts on Hawaiʻi Island. Mounce acknowledged that understanding their reproductive success remains a priority but emphasized the value of the progress observed on Maui for guiding future recovery of the ʻalalā.