Hawai'ian Crow to be released back into the wild

[Michael Szabo]

"Hawaii’s last remaining native crow species (‘Alala or Hawai'ian Crow), extinct in the wild for about 14 years, will begin to be released from a captive breeding program in September, with a dozen in all to be offered freedom by year’s end to seed what biologists hope will be their comeback."

Link: http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/new ... later-year

[Paul Scofield]

Astonishing amount of half truth in this article!!

"An earlier attempt to release ‘alala in South Kona in the 1990s proved unsuccessful as the birds became susceptible to disease and predation. Of the 27 captive-raised juvenile birds that were released, 21 died and the remaining six were recaptured."

TRUTH

An earlier attempt to release ‘alala in South Kona in the 1990s proved unsuccessful as the birds flew straight into a private ranch and the owner refused to allow F&W onto his land!!

"He said the area is fenced to keep out ungulates, allowing for a more mature undergrowth, which the ‘alala rely."

TRUTH

The area is fenced to keep out ungulates but this will not keep out predators that are the number 1 reason that all birds on Hawaii die (despite the fact they blame everything on disease).

[Michael Szabo]

Here's hoping they select a more suitable release site/s this time.