Breeding Success of Endangered Hawaiian Bird Brings Smallest 'Akepa Ever Hatched

June 13, 2007

The endangered Hawaiian ‘akepa (ah-KE-pa) received a small boost to its population earlier this month. Its newest member hatched June 1. At 0.94 grams (less than 1/30 of an ounce), it is the smallest bird of any species ever hatched and reared in captivity using artificial incubation and rearing techniques.

"Hatching any chick of this size is one of the ultimate avicultural challenges we face. The feeding and temperature regulation is of critical importance where any miscue can be disastrous,” said Alan Lieberman, conservation program manager for the Zoological Society of San Diego's Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program. “We've never hatched such a small individual of this species, but after 12 days of life, the nestling is nearing the age of fledge and we are feeling very confident that this chick will soon become a member of the release flock later this fall.”

The chick, hatched at the Society's Keauhou Bird Conservation Center, is being fed on the hour almost around the clock until it fledges at about 16 days of age. It is eating a combination of bee larvae, cricket and meal worm guts, and hard boiled egg with vitamin and mineral supplements of calcium, B1 (yeast), bone meal and tonic added. As it grows, it will be introduced to native fruits and nectar.

The flock the chick will join is scheduled to be released in August into a new management area called Kipuka 21, located on the slopes of Mauna Kea Volcano on the big island of Hawaii. The area is fenced and protected from ungulates, predators, and invasive plants. These ‘akepa, along with the Hawaiian creepers reared at the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center, will be the pioneer flock for this "island forest" on the lava flows of Mauna Kea.

“We hope the birds released in this area will remain and breed and provide people with the opportunity to observe endangered Hawaiian forest birds that generally require much effort to see,” said David Leonard, wildlife biologist with the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.

More

Read a blog about the first 'akepa to hatch in the Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program.