| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANIMALIA | CHORDATA | AVES | Passeriformes | Fringillidae |
| Scientific Name: | Melamprosops phaeosoma | |||
| Species Authority: | Casey & Jacobi, 1974 | |||
Common Name/s:
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| Red List Category & Criteria: | Critically Endangered A2ace; C2a(ii); D ver 3.1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Year Assessed: | 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Assessor/s | BirdLife International | ||||||||||||||||||
| Evaluator/s: | Bird, J., Butchart, S., Symes, A.(BirdLife International) | ||||||||||||||||||
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Justification: This species has been listed as Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) because, of three known individuals in 1998, one died in captivity in 2004 and the remaining two individuals have not been seen since 2003 and 2004. It may be extinct, but continuing surveys in all areas of potential habitat are needed to confirm that no other individuals survive. If any do still survive, the total population must be tiny. |
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| History: |
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| Range Description: |
Melamprosops phaeosoma is endemic to Maui in the Hawaiian Islands (USA), where it was discovered in 1973, in the Ko`olau Forest Reserve on the north-eastern flanks of Haleakala5,8, and estimated to number fewer than 200 birds. During 1975-1985, there was a rapid decline in density in the upper Hanawi watershed4, the last area from which it was known. In 1995, only five to seven birds were known but, by mid-1997, only three individuals could be found (two male, one possibly female), each with distinct home ranges in Hanawi Natural Area Reserve (NAR) and the immediately adjacent Haleakala National Park1. One of three known individuals was captured in September 2004 but died on 28 November 200412,14. The two other individuals may both have been male, but neither have been seen since 2003 and 200412, and are likely to have now died (if alive, both birds would be a minimum of 12 years old in 200812). No other individuals have been located since 1998 despite almost constant presence of researchers in the field in recent years12, but it is still possible, albeit unlikely, that a few unlocated individuals may exist in the wild14.
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| Countries: |
Native:
United States
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| Range Map: |
(click map to view full version)
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| Population: |
One of the last three individuals died in captivity in 2004 (K. Swinnerton in litt. 2006). The other two known individuals have not been seen since 2003 and 2004 (K. Swinnerton in litt. 2006). No new individuals have been found since 1998 (K. Swinnerton in litt. 2006). If any birds remain, the population is assumed to be tiny.
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| Population Trend: |
Decreasing
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| Habitat and Ecology: | It is found in remote `ohi`a forest6 at 1,400-2,100 m, but this may be suboptimal habitat as subfossil evidence indicates that it occurred in much drier habitat at 300-1,500 m2,4,7. It feeds primarily on snails, insects, and spiders, and occasionally fruit3,5. The two known nests were found in `ohi`a trees5. |
| Systems: | Terrestrial |
| Major Threat(s): |
Habitat destruction and modification, and the rapid spread of disease-carrying mosquitoes in the lowlands are thought to be responsible for past declines, and the latter continues to be a threat4,6. The precise causes of the recent population decline are unknown8, although a correlation with a concurrent 473% increase in pig activity within the Hanawi NAR has been hypothesised, as indexed by ground-cover disturbance4. Predation by introduced rats, cats and small Indian mongoose Herpestes auropunctatus is also possible. Rats and the introduced garlic snail (Oxychilus alliarius) have been blamed for the decline of native land snails, an important food source for the Po'o-uli11.
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| Conservation Actions: |
Conservation actions underway: In 1986, the 30 km2 Hanawi NAR was created to protect this species and, during 1990-1997, all feral pigs were systematically eradicated from three fenced areas5,7,8,13. An environmental assessment has been produced and a management plan proposed9,14. Two wild birds were briefly united when one was caught and moved into the home range of another. However, after just one day the translocated bird had returned to its own territory11. One of three known individuals was captured in September 2004 but died in captivity on 28 November 200412. The 2006 East Maui Forest Bird Survey covered 216 stations on 8 transects within Po'ouli habitat, and failed to locate any birds. In 2006, the East Maui Watershed Partnership (EMWP) completed a c. 5000 ha fenced unit adjacent to and east of Hanawi NAR incorporating the Ko'olau Forest Preserve, Haiku Uka and Waikamoi Forest Preserve, between about 1,000m and 2,400 m elevation. Feral pig control is the next phase, some of which has already been implemented by The Nature Conservancy in the Waikamoi Preserve portion.
Survey all remaining `ohi`a forest on East Maui2. Extend the new EMWP lower-elevation fence line west and below the existing Hanawi NAR fence-line to help prevent the spread of invasive weeds and mosquitoes into upper elevation forests and abet the restoration of more lower elevation habitat7. Intensify habitat management in areas adjacent to Hanawi NAR including removal of feral pigs from the new fenced unit.
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| Citation: | BirdLife International 2009. Melamprosops phaeosoma. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 November 2009. |
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