The resiliency of a young Hawaiian hawk with life-threatening injuries has inspired wildlife rehabilitators and educators to present a week-long series of virtual presentations on the birds of prey, organizers announced recently.
Hawk Week, which begins Sunday and continues through Oct. 15, is "(i)ntended to bring attention to the plight of our state’s native hawk and to raise awareness about the threats the bird faces," the office of Hawaii Gov. David Ige announced Oct. 4. Hawk Week is a collaboration between the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), the Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) and the Hawai'i Wildlife Center, the announcement reports.
Makaʻio, a three-year-old male 'lo, or Hawaiian hawk, is the inspiration behind Hawk Week, according to the announcement. The young hawk arrived at the Hawaiʻi Wildlife Center in north Kohala in 2019 with injuries severe enough to make life in the wild difficult, if not impossible, the report states.
Veterinarian Dr. Juan Guerra and his team cared for Maka'io when it was brought in and continue to work with the bird now.
“His main problems were an eye injury and a soft-tissue wing injury,” Guerra said in the statement. “His wing injury healed fine, but he can’t see out of his right eye anymore. As a birds of prey, ‘Io don’t do well out in the wild if they’re unable to see with both eyes.”
The wildlife center applied for and received permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the DOFAW to keep the hawk as an education bird, the report states.
“He’s here for people in the local community to learn more about his species," Guerra said, "about their natural history, their cultural importance, and the work we do at the wildlife center.”
Ande Buskirk, DOFAW's Education and Outreach Specialist for the Hawai‘i Island office, came up with Hawk Week to "honor and celebrate" Hawaii's native hawk as well as the topics to be discussed, according to the announcement. Daily presentations include biology and natural history of the 'lo; its cultural connections; conservation actions; public appreciation; care and rehabilitation; co-existence; and future efforts to protect birds of prey, the announcement states.
“Each day, starting this Sunday, new content will be added to the Hawk Week page according to each day’s theme,” Buskirk said.
DOFAW Wildlife Biologist Ray McGuire said Hawk Week is also an opportunity to remind the public that 'lo and other native birds are protected by federal and state laws.
“Protecting our native wildlife is huge,” McGuire said. “If people know there is a community that cares about these birds, perhaps that will stop some people from shooting at them."