Christmas bird counts, a tradition dating back to the late 19th century, have evolved from hunting events into significant conservation efforts. Initiated by the Audubon Society in 1900, these annual surveys now span over 1,000 locations worldwide. Hawai‘i's participation in this event adds special significance this year due to its focus on endangered forest birds.
At Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve (NAR), two teams conducted a count under favorable weather conditions. The reserve remains unaffected by avian malaria, a disease threatening several native bird species. Bret Mossman from DOFAW highlighted the presence of three endangered species: “We haven’t had too many impacts from the mosquito borne disease on our native bird populations here. And so, we’re very fortunate to still have three endangered species, the ʻakiapōlāʻau, Hawaiʻi akepa and ʻalawī.”
Andrea Buskirk of DOFAW emphasized the importance of such protected areas: “It’s a wonderful opportunity because this protected forest...That’s why we find ourselves in the home of the endangered birds.” Volunteers actively participated in spotting and recording bird sightings while also managing predator traps.
The initiative offers valuable citizen science opportunities and fosters awareness about native species. Buskirk noted, “Today, we’re highlighting hot spot areas...This is for some people, a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet these birds in their habitat.”
Jessica Middleton expressed enthusiasm about participating: “I got the email and I immediately signed up...It’s a restricted access kind of place.” After four hours of observation, volunteers counted 199 individuals belonging to endangered or threatened species.
Reflecting on the tradition's evolution, Alex Wang remarked: “It was originally a Christmas Bird hunt when folks...decided to start counting birds...Now...the idea of going out and shooting as many birds as you can on Christmas is laughable.”
The data collected through these counts aids researchers and conservationists in understanding long-term trends in bird populations across North America. This information is crucial for developing strategies to protect both birds and their habitats.