Fulica alai

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

View Printer Friendly

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	GRUIFORMES	RALLIDAE

Scientific Name:

Fulica alai

Species Authority:

Peale, 1848

Common Name/s:

English

–

Hawaiian Coot

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable D2 ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Taylor, J., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Baker, P., Baker, H., Lepson, J., Morin, M., Pimm, S., Reed, M., Fretz, S., VanderWerf, E., Donaldson, P., Camp, R.

Justification:
Although able to take advantage of most waterbodies, this species is listed as Vulnerable because its range is very small and susceptible to stochastic events and human activities, given that its wetland habitat is scattered and limited in area, and that only a small number of concentrations are known.

History:

2007	–	Vulnerable
2006	–	Vulnerable
2004	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Fulica alai is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands (USA), where it is found on all the main islands except Kaho`olawe¹⁴. Formerly, it was also absent from Lâna`i, which, along with Kaho`olawe, lacked suitable wetland habitat¹⁴. Stragglers reach as far west as Kure in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. It declined dramatically during the 20th century², although it increased on O`ahu from the mid-1970s to the late 1980s. During this period, highly variable numbers on other islands showed no local trends¹². Survey data from 1976 to 2003 reveal short-term population fluctuations, with a long-term slight increase in the overall population¹⁴. The current population probably fluctuates between 2,000 and 4,000 individuals, with Kaua`i, O`ahu and Maui supporting 80% of this total^5,10,14. Some 30 colonies or concentrations are known^1,6.
Countries:	Native: United States
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The current population is thought to fluctuate between 2,000 and 4,000 birds (Pratt 1987; Engilis and Pratt 1993).
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It can be expected on virtually any body of water, including estuaries, marshes and golf course wetlands¹². It is typically a species of the coastal plain, usually found below 400 m, however some birds inhabit upland pools above 1,500 m on Kaua`i and montane stock ponds up to 2,000 m on Hawai`i¹⁴. Breeding sites are characterised by robust emergent plants interspersed with open, fresh or brackish water, which is usually less than one metre deep. To some extent it is nomadic and irruptive, wandering between islands in response to the availability of water-bodies¹¹. It may nest in any month of the year¹⁴.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater; Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

It can be expected on virtually any body of water, including estuaries, marshes and golf course wetlands¹². It is typically a species of the coastal plain, usually found below 400 m, however some birds inhabit upland pools above 1,500 m on Kaua`i and montane stock ponds up to 2,000 m on Hawai`i¹⁴. Breeding sites are characterised by robust emergent plants interspersed with open, fresh or brackish water, which is usually less than one metre deep. To some extent it is nomadic and irruptive, wandering between islands in response to the availability of water-bodies¹¹. It may nest in any month of the year¹⁴.

Systems:

Terrestrial; Freshwater; Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Throughout its range, wetlands have been destroyed by drainage for cultivation and developments^2,4,9 such as hotels, housing areas, golf courses, shopping centres, landfill sites, military installations, roads and industrial sites¹⁴. Some water-bodies have become overgrown by introduced plants^1,8. On O`ahu, artificial wetlands associated with sugarcane plantations have disappeared as these industries have declined on the island⁴. However, this has had no detectable effect on the population, based on survey data¹². Introduced predators are an additional threat^1,5. These include the black rat Rattus rattus, brown rat Rattus norwegicus, domestic cat and dog, small Asian mongoose Herpestes javanicus and Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis¹². H. javanicus is known to take the eggs, young birds and nesting adults of wetland bird species¹⁴. Predation appears to be a serious problem on golf courses, where F. alai is abundant¹². The species may be poisoned by insecticides and herbicides used to treat water channels on agricultural land and golf courses^2,4, although research is required to confirm this potential threat and its severity. Outbreaks of avian botulism have caused high mortality in several areas^1,7,8,13.

Major Threat(s):

Throughout its range, wetlands have been destroyed by drainage for cultivation and developments^2,4,9 such as hotels, housing areas, golf courses, shopping centres, landfill sites, military installations, roads and industrial sites¹⁴. Some water-bodies have become overgrown by introduced plants^1,8. On O`ahu, artificial wetlands associated with sugarcane plantations have disappeared as these industries have declined on the island⁴. However, this has had no detectable effect on the population, based on survey data¹². Introduced predators are an additional threat^1,5. These include the black rat Rattus rattus, brown rat Rattus norwegicus, domestic cat and dog, small Asian mongoose Herpestes javanicus and Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis¹². H. javanicus is known to take the eggs, young birds and nesting adults of wetland bird species¹⁴. Predation appears to be a serious problem on golf courses, where F. alai is abundant¹². The species may be poisoned by insecticides and herbicides used to treat water channels on agricultural land and golf courses^2,4, although research is required to confirm this potential threat and its severity. Outbreaks of avian botulism have caused high mortality in several areas^1,7,8,13.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway Hunting was prohibited in 1939, and the species has been fully protected by US law since 1970¹². Several key wetland areas have been, or are being, acquired as refuges or sanctuaries, and other areas are protected by cooperative agreements. Predator control has been effective in increasing the productivity of many wetland species at Kanaha pond, Maui¹. Conservation Actions Proposed Study breeding seasonality and local movements³. Determine the relative importance of threats¹². Investigate whether herbicides and insecticides used on golf courses pose a serious threat to the species. Manage habitats, e.g. prevent ponds from drying out, or becoming overgrown by alien plants and create nesting islands inaccessible to introduced predators^1,3,5,8. Carry out predator control¹². Increase the area of protected wetlands¹². Where botulism is a problem, remove carcasses, manage water-levels and quality, treat sick birds and discourage or move healthy birds from affected areas⁷.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
Hunting was prohibited in 1939, and the species has been fully protected by US law since 1970¹². Several key wetland areas have been, or are being, acquired as refuges or sanctuaries, and other areas are protected by cooperative agreements. Predator control has been effective in increasing the productivity of many wetland species at Kanaha pond, Maui¹.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Study breeding seasonality and local movements³. Determine the relative importance of threats¹². Investigate whether herbicides and insecticides used on golf courses pose a serious threat to the species. Manage habitats, e.g. prevent ponds from drying out, or becoming overgrown by alien plants and create nesting islands inaccessible to introduced predators^1,3,5,8. Carry out predator control¹². Increase the area of protected wetlands¹². Where botulism is a problem, remove carcasses, manage water-levels and quality, treat sick birds and discourage or move healthy birds from affected areas⁷.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Fulica alai. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 07 February 2012.
Disclaimer:	To make use of this information, please check the <Terms of Use>.
Feedback:	If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please fill in the feedback form so that we can correct or extend the information provided