(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
                                    Species 'O'U
                                Species Id ESIS101027
                                   Date 14 MAR 96



TAXONOMY

NAME - 'O'U OTHER COMMON NAMES - 'O'U; OU; 'OU;HONEYCREEPER, 'O'U; CREEPER, HONEY+, 'O'U; 'O'U-PO'OLAPALAPA; 'O'U-LAUEO; 'O'U-LAVEO; 'O'U, HEADED, YELLOW-; 'O'U, GREEN, LEAF-; 'O'U-PO'O-PAPALE; 'OU'OU; 'O'U'O'U; 'O'U-LAE-O'O; 'O'U-PO'OPAPALE;OU-PO-PAPALE; OU, HONOLULU; OU, OAHU; OU, O'AHU; OU, MOLOKAI;OU, MOLOKA'I; OHU;GROSBEAK, BILLED, PARROT-; BIRD WITH A YELLOW HEAD;RAOUHLI;'O'U, HEADED, MATURE-; FINCH, LANAI, BILLED, HOOK-;FINCH, LANA'I, BILLED, HOOK-; FINCH, LANAI, BILL, HOOK-; FINCH, LANA'I, BILL and HOOK- ELEMENT CODE - CATEGORY - Birds PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - CHORDATA, CLASS AND SUBCLASS - AVES, ORDER AND SUBORDER - PASSERIFORMES, FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - FRINGILLIDAE, GENUS AND SUBGENUS - PSITTIROSTRA, SPECIES AND SSP - PSITTACEA, SCIENTIFIC NAME - PSITTIROSTRA PSITTACEA AUTHORITY - TAXONOMY REFERENCES - COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY - 'O'u Psittirostra psittacea (Gmelin, 1789) KINGDOM: Animal GROUP: Bird PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Aves ORDER: Passeriformes FAMILY: Fringillidae The adult male 'o'u has a gamboge-yellow head and neck, all the rest of the upper parts olive-green inclining to yellow on the rump; whole of the under surface greenish yellow with the exception of the breast, which is grey; remiges and rectrices dusky brown margined with olive-green; irides dark hazel; feet pinkish, and bill pinkish to straw-colored. The adult female's head and neck is olive-green above and grey beneath; the rest of the under surface is greyish white; under tail-coverts are pure white. Adult measurements are: total length 16 cm, wing 9.8, culmen 1.8, tarsus 2.4, and tail 5.6 cm (01, 02). The Hawaiian honeycreepers (drepanids) were in the family Drepanididae. Some authors included most species in the family Meliphagidae, others included them in the Fringillidae, and the Dicaeidae (01,03). The AOU Checklist revised the family Fringillidae (including the Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy Species 'O'U Species Id ESIS101027 Date 14 MAR 96 subfamily Drepanidinae, Hawaiian honeycreepers, formerly family Drepanididae) and divided it into the tribe Psittirostrini (Hawaiian finches); the tribe Hemignathini (Hawaiian creepers and allies); and the tribe Drepanidini. The 'o'u is in the tribe Psittirostrini (09). Synonymy for the 'o'u is long and complicated. Rothschild (03) lists the following synonymy for the 'o'u: Parrot-billed grosbeak, Lath (1783); "Bird with a yellow head", King (1784); Loxia psittacea, Gmelin (1788); Strobilophaga psittacea, Vieill. (1817); Psittirostra psittacea, Temm. (1820); Psittacirostra psittacea, "Raoulhi", Quoy and Gaim. (1842); Psittirostra sandvicensis, Step. (1826); Psittacirostra icterocephala, Temm. and Laugier (1829); Psittacopis psittacea, Cab (1849); Sittacodes psittacea, Reichenow (1884); and "ou" (Loxioides bailleui) Perkins 1983 (error in Ibis). Wilson and Evans (01) present the same list and add: Psittacina olivacea, Lichtenstein (1854). To this may be added: Psittacirostra deppei, P. psittacea deppei Rothschild, Psittacirostra psittacea oppidana Bangs (1911), and Dysmorodrepanis munroi Perkins (05,12,13). Amadon also considered Perkin's description of an 'o'u from Lana'i (13) (Dysmorodrepanis munroi) an abberant form (05), called the hook-bill (or hook-billed) Lana'i (or Lanai) finch by Munro (12). Fossils of Psittirostra psittacea were found on Kaua'i and O'ahu, and the authors noted that the 'o'u once occurred on all the main islands, and had not differentiated into subspecies (14). Rothschild (03) lists "ou-po-papale", (Psittacirostra psittacea) as an erroneous synonym for the palila (Loxioides bailleui) noting Perkins (non GM), Ibis, 1893, p.103, was in error stating "There is, in my opinion, no doubt that Mr. Perkins had mixed up the names of Psittacirostra and Loxioides, as the description of the habits of his supposed Psittacirostra - the highland distribution, its principal food the mamane - leaves no doubt as to what bird he meant." Munro (12) notes that palila has been applied to Chloridops through an error that crept into a paper by Perkins in the Ibis when Perkins was unable to check proofs. These errors lead to some confusion in trying to understand Perkins paper (15, esp. p.103). Rothschild (03) also described the 'o'u from O'ahu, which he called the Honolulu ou, as Psittirostra olivacea, noting Psittina olivacea Lichtenstein 1854, (it is only because the specimens in the Berlin Museum are still in existence and are marked as the types of P. olivacea, and they are from O'ahu, that we know that this name refers to the O'ahu form of Psittirostra.) Fortunately, the common names are not as confusing, but some errors have occurred; 'ou is Hawaiian for Bulwer petrel (Bulweria bulwerii) (16), and this was incorrectly applied by Dunmire (17). Other common names in the list of Hawaiian names (16) are 'o'u honeycreeper known only by Hawaiian name Psittirostra psittacea; 'o'u-po'olapalapa (male), 'o'u-laueo (female), indicating, respectively, the yellow-headed and the leaf-green 'o'u; (Wilson spells the second name laevo, which is obviously incorrect); 'o'u-lae-o'o, variety of 'o'u, similar to 'o'u-po'o-papale, Lit., mature-headed 'o'u; 'Ou'ou; 'o'u'o'u; and 'o'u-po'opapale, variety of 'o'u (16,18). Possible confusion exists with the 'o'u-hololo-wai (Kauai akepa) and also the 'ouku'u (a rare variant of 'auku'u, or black-crowned night heron) with the 'o'u. Inappropriately applied Taxonomy - 2 (DRAFT) - Taxonomy Species 'O'U Species Id ESIS101027 Date 14 MAR 96 names include: the Honolulu ou; the Oahu (or O'ahu) ou; Molokai (or Moloka'i) ou; and Bloxam also called the bird "ohu" (01). Three hundred twenty-three specimens of the 'o'u, or ou, were found to be distributed in museum collections as follows (19): American Museum of Natural History in New York, NY 55; Aukland Inst. and Museum, Auckland, NZ 1; Academy of Natural Sciences Philadelphia, PA 8; Bernice Pauaihi Bishop Museum in Honolulu, HI 77; British Museum of Natural History, London 33; California Academy of Science, San Francisco 2; Cambridge Univ. Mus. of Zool., Cambridge 11, including 1 mtd.; Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh, PA 3; Inst. Fur Spezielle Zoologie, Berlin 5; Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, Los Angeles 3 mtd; Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 25; Museum National D'Histoire Naturelle, Paris 9; Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna 3; National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. 56, including 2 skeletons; Royal Ontairo Museum Ottawa 11; Senckenberg Museum, Frankfurt 3; Staatliches Museum Fur Tierkunde, Dreseden 2; University of California, Berkeley 3; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 2; Yale University Peabody Museum, New Haven 4 (19). Taxonomy - 3
                                  (DRAFT) - Status
                                    Species 'O'U
                                Species Id ESIS101027
                                   Date 14 MAR 96



STATUS

Coded Status E: Federal Endangered Non-consumptive recreational COMMENTS ON STATUS - U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS: The 'o'u (Psittirostra psittacea) has been designated an Endangered species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (50 CFR 17.11; P.L. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884; 16 U.S.C. 1531-1540), as amended. The species has this status wherever found including the State of Hawaii. This species is protected by the Lacey Act (P.L. 97-79, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.) which makes it unlawful to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any wild animal (alive or dead including parts, products, eggs, or offspring): (1) in interstate or foreign commerce if taken, possessed, transported or sold in violation of any State law or regulation; or (2) if taken or possessed in violation of any U.S. law, treaty, or regulation or in violation of Indian tribal law. It is also unlawful to possess any wild animal (alive or dead including parts, products, eggs, and offspring) within the U.S. territorial or special maritime jurisdiction (as defined in 18 U.S.C. 7) that is taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any State law or regulation, foreign law, or Indian tribal law. RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL AGENCIES: USFWS -Responsible for the management/recovery, listing, and law enforcement/protection of this species. NPS -Responsible for the law enforcement/protection of this species with applicable State and Federal laws on public lands under their control. Also responsible for conservation (Nat. Park System Organic Act - 16 U.S.C. 1, 2-3)/management/recovery on National Park Service lands. Taking, possessing, or disturbing of Federally listed species is prohibited on NPS lands (36 CFR 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3). All Federal agencies have responsibility to ensure that any action authorized, funded, or carried out by that agency is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of Critical Habitat (50 CFR 402), and to utilize their authorities to carry out programs for the Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status Species 'O'U Species Id ESIS101027 Date 14 MAR 96 conservation of the species. STATE STATUSES AND LAWS: STATE: Hawai'i DESIGNATED STATUS: Endangered ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife. STATE STATUTE: Hawai'i Revised Statutes, Chapter 195D. INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS: The species is not listed by CITES. It is listed as an endangered species in the IUCN Red Data Book, 1977; and is listed by the Convention on Nature Protection and Wildlife Preservation in the Western Hemisphere, 1970. ECONOMIC STATUSES: The 'o'u was formerly a principal seed dispersal vector for plants with small seeded, fleshy fruits in low elevation forests. There was a particularly close association between 'o'u and ie'ie vine (Freycinetia arborea). The 'o'u is one of the rare birds sought on Kaua'i and Hawai'i by bird watchers. 67/03/11:32 FR 04001/ - Original listing 70/08/25:35 FR 13519/13520 - Proposed relisting 70/10/13:35 FR 16047/16048 - Final ruling on previous list, Endangered 85/07/22:50 FR 29901/29909 - Five year review Status - 2
     

HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS

HABITAT - TERRESTRIAL TERRESTRIAL INLAND AQUATIC LAND USE - Evergreen Forest Land Streams and Canals Forested Wetland NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC Riverine, upper perennial OW0 Palustrine FO3 Palustrine EM1 COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS - The 'o'u formerly used a wide variety of wet, mesic, and dry forest habitats on all six major Hawaiian Islands, ranging from the very wet o'hi'a rainforests, through the mesic koa forests, into the lowland kukui forest and lowland introduced vegetation, e.g. guava (01,03,04,11,12,15,20). It now occurs in very low numbers, near extinction, on the Islands of Kaua'i and Hawai'i, in only small portions of its former range. The habitat associations discussed here apply only to its present known range on Kaua'i and Hawai'i. On Kaua'i it now occurs primarily in near-temperate to subtropic wet mesic o'hi'a rainforest in the southern, more inaccessible portions of the Alaka'i Swamp plateau at elevations ranging from about 1,065 to 1,280 m. There is possibly still some use of the mesic koa forest fringing the western edge of the Alaka'i Swamp, although there are no recent records. The old to mature growth of o'hi'a forest has many standing snags frequently used by 'o'u. Tree cavities are used for nesting by the Kaua'i 'o'o; the nest of the 'o'u has never been found, but the lack of detection of the 'o'u nest and the recent finds of several tree nesting species of Hawaiian birds suggests that the 'o'u may also be a tree cavity nester. The 'o'u possibly ranges through about 6800 hectares of continuous forest, from the southern part of north Alaka'i Swamp on Kohua Ridge south through the southeast and southwest Alaka'i Swamp. About 2,400 ha in this range are on private land, and the remainder is State-owned land designated as a sanctuary. There are several small bogs of lichens, mosses, grasses, fly-catcher plants, violets, sedges, etc. with scattered cover of a dwarf variety of o'hi'a tree, merely 2 to 4 ft high. The wet o'hi'a forest averages about 12 m in height, and there is usually a substory of lapalapa (Cheirodendron spp.) trees in which 'o'u frequently perch. Numerous meandering mountain steams dissect the area so that except for major ridges which occasionally broaden into relatively flat areas the land is a maze of narrow knife-like ridges, cliffs, ledges, and steep inclines to adjoining streams. The soils throughout most of the Alaka'i Swamp on Kaua'i resemble clay-loams with much organic detritus, and occasional clay lenses exposed by weather and erosion, or the rooting of wild pigs (42). The soils in the present 'o'u range on Kaua'i are classified as Ultisols, Histosols, Oxisols, and mixed types (62). Temperatures normally range from about 7 to 22 degrees C, with extremes of -1 to 27 degrees C plus annually. Usually October to December and late February to mid-April are the wettest periods, with rainfall rarely Habitat Associations - 1 reaching about 102 cm in one day, but usually averaging 381 to 508 cm per year over most of the area, with limited portions near Mt. Wai'ale'ale averaging about 1232 cm annually (62). The area appears relatively pristine except for some pig destruction of the habitat and tall grasses along the small meandering trails that can be difficult to follow in the frequent fog. On the east, most of the south, and western portions of this perched rainforest the palis, or cliffs, drop off 610 to 915 m below to the rivers (42). On Kaua'i the 'o'u formerly (around the turn of the century) ranged down the slopes, which are mostly too steep for human travel, into the lower elevations with kukui trees and introduced guava, to search for fruit and possibly caterpillars; reportedly coming down to as low as 90 m elevation near the ocean (01,31). Most of the land at the southern end of the Alaka'i Swamp down to lower elevations is privately owned and has not been open for bird surveys in the last few decades, so it is possible that some movement of the 'o'u off the upper plateau may still occur in seasonal searches for food. This seasonal, or possibly daily, movement of the 'o'u possibly exposed it more than most other forest birds to avian disease and the vectors of transmission (04,12). On the Island of Hawai'i the 'o'u are mostly restricted to the eastern slopes of Mauna Loa in wet, subtropical o'hi'a forest. Temperatures here would range from about -1 to 29 degrees C, and rainfall from about 254 to 510 cm annually (62). The terrain is a more gradual slope toward the sea than on Kaua'i, and streams are less meandering. Soils range from exposed lava to clay loams, and are classified mostly as Histosols and Inceptisols (62). The land and forest is more vulnerable to destruction by human use and exploitation than on Kaua'i. The 'o'u ranges over about 145 square km on a few isolated areas in Hamakua and Puna Districts, with only 9 'o'u estimated in the Puna area, and about 385 'o'u in Hamakua. During the Hawaiian Forest Bird Surveys of the late 1970's the 'o'u on Hawai'i Island was found between about 900 meters (2950 ft) and 1,500 meters (4920 ft), in o'hi'a forest with dense canopy. The original range of the 'o'u on Hawai'i is estimated at 7,043 square km, 1,368 square km on Kaua'i, 1,485 square km on Maui, 501 square km on Moloka'i, and 186 square km on Lana'i. The 'o'u occupied dry lowland and montane forests, mesic lowland and montane forest, and wet lowland and montane forest (22,23). Reportedly, the 'o'u on Hawai'i used to seasonally range more into the koa forest in search for looper caterpillars (04). Both the fruits and flowers of ie'ie vine (Freycinetia arborea) are a favorite food of the 'o'u, but ie'ie vine is not always a common component in the range of the 'o'u. Perkins thought that the nest of the 'o'u might be someday found among the tangle of ie'ie vines or in uluhe fern (Dicranopterus linearis) (03,04,12). Habitat Associations - 2
                                (DRAFT) - Food Habits
                                    Species 'O'U
                                Species Id ESIS101027
                                   Date 14 MAR 96



FOOD HABITS

TROPHIC LEVEL - OMNIVORE LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART General Deciduous Shrubs-Flowers/Fruit/Seed General Evergreen Shrubs-Flowers/Fruit/Seed General Coniferae General Evergreen Trees-Flowers/Fruit/Seed General Deciduous Trees-Flowers/Fruit/Seed General Lianas-Flowers/Fruit/Seed General Arthropods Food Habits - 1
                         (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
                                    Species 'O'U
                                Species Id ESIS101027
                                   Date 14 MAR 96



ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS

G = General A = Adult LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae L = Larvae E = Egg RL = Resting Larvae FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS G Inland Wetlands: Bogs G Coastal Features: Vegetated offshore islands G Terrestrial Features: Cliffs/ledges G Snags: Unknown G Tree Cavities: Unknown Environment Associations - 1
                               (DRAFT) - Life History
                                    Species 'O'U
                                Species Id ESIS101027
                                   Date 14 MAR 96



LIFE HISTORY

FOOD HABITS: All authors acknowledge that ie'ie (Freycinetia arborea) fruit and flowers were a favorite food of the 'o'u (01,03,14,12,15,20,10). The large female inflorescence was its favorite, but it also fed on the male flowers, and the red leaf-bracts which surround these. It also, to a lesser degree, eats the fruits of several other trees, and in forests above the range of the ie'ie vine it is partial to the berries of arborescent Lobeliaceae, especially the large yellow Clermontia. The fruit of the introduced guava (Psidium spp.) is taken, as well as other foreign wild fruits. The nectar of o'hi'a flowers is used by the 'o'u. The 'o'u feeds its young largely with caterpillars, especially those of Geometridae (04). Other foods reported are: wild mulberry (Morus alba) (01); mamaki berries (Pipturus albidus), alanai ('alani) = orange (Citrus sinensis), kopiko (Psychotria spp.), kawau (Ilex anomala), bananas (Musa xparadisiaca), peaches (Prunus persica), insects (11); tender leaves of trees, e.g. lapalapa (Cheirodendron spp.) o'hi'a ai, or mountain apple (Eugenia malaccensis) (10,08); and olana (Touchardia latifolia) (20), opuhe (Urera spp.) (13). HOME RANGE/TERRITORY: Despite the fact that 'o'u once was common on all of the six main Hawaiian Islands almost nothing is known about its territoriality or home range. Nests, eggs, and nestlings have never been found (07). Henshaw (11) stated that they were generally found in small companies, never singly, and that they always seemed to be paired; he believed that they paired for life. Perkins (04) noted their movements to food supplies (e.g. ie'ie flowers and fruits, guava fruits, swarms of caterpillars). Bryan (20) mentions 'o'u feeding through the tops of trees, usually several birds in a locality scattered about in scout formation, within calling distance of one another; seldom alighting in the same tree. Four 'o'u have been observed on the same dead o'hi'a snag during May and may have been parents and young (42). Agonistic behavior of the 'o'u among themselves has not been documented. Obviously, since they occurred on all six main islands they are capable of long sustained flight, and Bryan (20) mentions that in their rapid, heavy and direct flight from one ridge to another they are often in small companies. They can be predictable in the times of day in which they use certain trees, being able to see them in the same tree at 1030 hrs and 1620 hrs for days at a time (42). Because of their rapid movement from snag to snag through the forest, as if there was a definite distant destination in mind, it was impossible to keep up with them and learn much of their habits. Sincock saw a pair near Halehaha Stream, Kaua'i in the month of March; the female was carrying a twig. They may have been tree cavity nesters (42). PERIODICITY: The 'o'u is diurnal; most of Sincock's observations of 'o'u have been from about 0730 to 1700 hrs (42). Their seasonal movement to food sources has been noted by Perkins (04) and Bryan (20,31) where there are substantial movements up or down the mountain in search of Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History Species 'O'U Species Id ESIS101027 Date 14 MAR 96 fruits of ie'ie, guava, or looper caterpillars. Their scarcity on Kaua'i and Hawai'i now makes it difficult to add much to what little is known of the 'o'u. MIGRATION PATTERNS: Perkins (04) noted the ou's movement downward below the range of the ie'ie, where they frequented the clumps of kukui trees, but many of these returned in the evening from these isolated clumps (in middle Kona, Hawai'i in 1892) to the shelter of the continuous forest at higher elevations. Movements between islands has probably occurred during storms. Daily movements in search for food possibly involves distances of 6.5 to 8 km (42). On successive mornings Sincock frequently saw a small group of 'o'u moving along a particular ridge near Halehaha Stream in early morning, and apparently a return movement back along the same ridge in late afternoon (42). COVER/SHELTER REQUIREMENTS: The 'o'u is now found on Kaua'i and Hawai'i mostly in wet o'hi'a forest below 1500 m elevation, where rainfall is in excess of 510 cm annually. Lapalapa (Cheirodendron spp.) is the common tree in the substory. The 'o'u once occupied many habitats on the six major islands of Hawai'i, so probably more than anything else it needs a relatively undisturbed o'hi'a forest above the normal range of vectors of avian disease. Nothing is known of its needs for nesting (42). REPRODUCTIVE SITE REQUIREMENTS: The nest, eggs, and nestlings of the 'o'u have never been found (42,07). The 'o'u may be a cavity nester based on recent finds of nests of other bird species such as the Kaua'i 'o'o. REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS: The nest, eggs, and young of the 'o'u have never been found (04, 42,07). From the end of March to the middle of May females were found with greatly enlarged ovaries (03). Young have been seen in June suggesting a March-May breeding season (06). Sincock saw what were believed to be two young with parents in May,and saw a young 'o'u begging food from a female in May (42). PARENTAL CARE: Since the nest, eggs, and nestlings of 'o'u have never been found little is known of parental care (04,42,07). Perkins (04) noticed great numbers of young in the middle forest of Kona, Hawai'i in June, some scarcely able to fly. The 'o'u feeds its young largely with caterpillars. POPULATION BIOLOGY: Because of extirpation of the 'o'u on four major Hawaiian islands and its near extinction on Kaua'i and Hawai'i it is most likely that predation and/or avian disease have been and are the current limiting factors (04,05,12,22,23,24,50). Nothing is known about survival rate, mortality rate, rate of increase, sex ratio, recovery potential, turnover rate, and longevity (42). The 'o'u, formerly an inhabitant of six major islands, is one of the few of Hawai'i's Endangered forest Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Life History Species 'O'U Species Id ESIS101027 Date 14 MAR 96 birds that offers the potential for translocation back to an island, (e.g. Maui, which still has some reasonably good habitat). Translocation of 'o'u to Maui offers the potential for reestablishment of 'o'u, and research opportunities to determine if it can be done, and why it might fail. The prime objective of the Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Plan is to prevent the extinction of the endangered forest birds, and increase their individual populations to 1,000 so that they can be considered for downlisting to threatened status (24). The prime objective of the Hawaii Forest Bird Recovery Plan (22) for the 'o'u is to assure viable populations are maintained and that they are ultimately restored to a delisted status. Sincock believes the recovery potential for Endangered forest passerines in Hawai'i to be very low, considering the present state of knowledge of disease, its control, lack of experience in captive propagation and reluctance to use it for Hawaiian birds, and reluctance to attempt translocations of birds into former habitats (42). SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS: Little is known about the 'o'u. The populations are probably affected by the introduced black rat (Rattus rattus) (24,50). Disease, e.g. avian pox and avian malaria, may have caused the extirpation of the 'o'u from O'ahu, Maui, Moloka'i, and Lana'i, and its near extinction on Kaua'i and Hawai'i (04,12,22,24,36,50,53). Mosquitos, (e.g., Culex quinquefasiatus) may transmit avian malaria, or pox, and pox could be transmitted mechanically by introduced birds. Mosquitoes were not introduced until about 1826 (27,53). The raising of domestic chickens, which must be inoculated against pox to be successful, or the introduced passerines or game birds may be a source of pox (05,11,24,42). Cats may have been a significant predator in certain parts of the 'o'u range (04,24,42). OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS: None. Life History - 3
                           (DRAFT) - Management Practices
                                    Species 'O'U
                                Species Id ESIS101027
                                   Date 14 MAR 96



MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Air Space Usage Beneficial Restricting/regulating human disturbance of populations Beneficial Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas Beneficial Restricting/regulating human use of habitats Beneficial Land Acquisition Beneficial Controlling/Removing Nonnative Vegetation Beneficial Maintaining Sperm/Seed Banks Beneficial Stocking captive-reared wild-strain animals Beneficial Disease Control Measures Beneficial Controlling/Removing Invertebrates Beneficial Controlling/Removing Exotic Vertebrates Beneficial Controlling/Removing Feral Animals Adverse Incidental Capturing/Killing Existing Incidental Capturing/Killing Adverse Collecting Existing Collecting Adverse Low Gene Pool Existing Low Gene Pool Adverse Disease Existing Disease Adverse Parasites Existing Parasites Adverse Predation Existing Predation Adverse Competition Existing Competition Adverse Exotic/Feral/Introducted Species Existing Exotic/Feral/Introducted Species Adverse Vegetation Composition Changes Existing Vegetation Composition Changes Adverse Forest Alteration Existing Forest Alteration Adverse Harvesting Existing Harvesting COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES - The 'o'u was common on all of the six main Hawaiian Islands of Kaua'i, O'ahu, Moloka'i, Lana'i, Maui, and Hawai'i. The 'o'u was last collected on O'ahu in 1846, and possibly last seen by Perkins in 1893 (04,09). Bryan collected 16 'o'u on Moloka'i in 1907, and Munro collected four in 1907; it probably has not been seen since (19,20). It was last collected on Lana'i in 1927, and was presumed extinct there about 1932 (12,19). Seven specimens of 'o'u were collected on Maui in 1901, and that was the last report from Maui (19,21). Very small populations still exist on Kaua'i and Hawai'i, in a limited portion of its former range (22,23,24). One reason that the 'o'u remained common while numerous other species were becoming extinct, was their power of flight, which carried them from island to island, Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices Species 'O'U Species Id ESIS101027 Date 14 MAR 96 especially during storms. Interchange of populations probably permitted survival of the species for longer than other isolated birds and, or course, smaller colonies were re-inforced from time to time (25). The reasons for the extirpation of the 'o'u on O'ahu, Moloka'i, Maui, and Lana'i, and the decline in the populations on Kaua'i and Hawai'i will never be fully determined. But the causes of decline of Hawaiian forest birds are believed to be: 1. Habitat destruction and degradation, both past and present, by man (e.g., forest clearing or alteration), introduced herbivores, and plants (04,05,11,12,14,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34, 35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49). 2. Predation by introduced predators, e.g., black rats (Rattus rattus), cats (Felis catus), common mynah (Acridotheres tristis) (04, 05,12,22,24,27,29,36,41,45,50). 3. Avian disease, e.g., pox and malaria (04,05,22,23,24,27,28, 36,41,49,50,51,52,53). 4. Competition from exotic birds (04,05,22,23,24,28,36,41,49,53, 54,55,56,57). 5. Over-specialization, lack of ability to adjust, and impoverishment of the gene pool (04,05,24,41,54,55,57). 6. Hunting and collecting (04,05,27,29,36). Predation and disease were most likely to have caused declines and continued suppression of the populations. Black rats are ubiquitous throughout the mountains, and feral cats are abundant in some mesic areas. Pox-type lesions are common on exotic birds in the lowlands, and they may serve to carry disease into the mountain forests. The 'o'u was known to come to low elevations, almost to the sea, in search of food (01,12,42), where it would have been exposed to disease. Potential threats to the 'o'u in the future include proposed dams for hydroelectric power and irrigation storage, increased human use of present habitat, conditions favoring increase in vectors (e.g. mosquitos) of avian disease, introduction of additional predators (e.g. snakes that eat birds), further introductions of, or escape of, caged birds capable of living in the rainforests, thereby increasing competition and disease-parasite problems, further introductions and spread of exotic plants, further introductions and failure to control ungulates, geothermal development on the Island of Hawai'i, and lumbering, chipping, and reforestation projects that destroy native forests (22,23,24,29,42,53,57,58,60,61). APPROVED PLAN (3 plans): U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1983. Hawai'i Forest Bird Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR. 76 pp. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1983. Kauai Forest Birds Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR. 69 pp. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1984. Maui-Molokai Forest Birds Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR. 110 pp. Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices Species 'O'U Species Id ESIS101027 Date 14 MAR 96 As with other critically Endangered forest birds, the main hope for recovery lies in the captive propagation and reintroduction into restored essential habitat. Since the 'o'u occurs or historically occurred on the island of Hawai'i, Kaua'i, Moloka'i, and Maui (as well as other islands) it is included in three Recovery Plans: Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui-Molokai Forest Bird Recovery Plans. The prime objective of the Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Plan is to prevent the extinction of the Endangered forest birds, and increase their individual populations to 1,000 so that they can be considered for downlisting to Threatened status (24). The prime objective of the Hawaii Forest Bird Recovery Plan (22) for the 'o'u is to assure viable populations are maintained and that they are ultimately restored to a delisted status. The Recovery Plan for forest birds on Hawai'i Island recommends: 1) Acquisition of certain private lands and managing these as sanctuaries. Critical Habitat on government owned lands are also recommended for stricter conservation and more active management. 2) Reducing the impact of feral ungulates, alien plants, mammalian predators, and mosquitoes as disease vectors. 3) Control of disease vectors is particularly critical to the 'o'u which favors lower elevations, where densities of disease vectors are greatest. 4) Reintroduction of 'o'u to the slopes of Haleakala on Maui. 5) Maintain a sperm bank. 6) Control human activities on Kaua'i such as aircraft traffic, land development (roads, buildings, reservoirs), and recreational activities. 7) New research into the life history of the 'o'u. 8) Establishment of a public information and education program. Apart from population monitoring, no actions are being taken specifically for the recovery of 'o'u. The State is presently acquiring a 10,200 hectare parcel in Puna, part of which will be transferred to the National Park Service; the remainder will be designated as a Natural Area Reserve. This action will secure essential habitat for 'o'u. The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park included lands occupied by 'o'u until the 1980's; these lands are contiguous with the Puna lands mentioned above. The National Park is currently eliminating feral pigs from its lands. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), assisted by The Nature Conservancy, is now acquiring a 13,200 hectare tract on Mauna Kea for the Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge. Lower elevations of this tract include essential habitat for 'o'u. The refuge will be managed for forest birds. Current plans for a breeding facility on Maui for endangered birds may include the 'o'u among the species propagated. The facility would entail a joint effort between the State and the USFWS. Management Practices - 3
                                   (DRAFT) - References
                                       Species 'O'U
                                  Species Id ESIS101027
                                      Date 14 MAR 96



     

References

***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE ***** 01 Wilson, S.B. and A.H. Evans. 1890-1899. Aves Hawaiienses: The birds of the Sandwich Islands. R.H. Porter, London. 02 Peterson, R.T. 1969. A field guide to western birds, 2nd rev. ed. Houghton Mifflin, Boston. 03 Rothschild, W. 1893-1900. The avifauna of Laysan and the neighboring islands. 3 Vols. R.H. Porter, London. 04 Perkins, R.C.L. 1903. Vertebrata. Pages 365-466. IN: Fauna Hawaiiensis, Vol. 1, Part IV. D. Sharp, ed. The University Press, Cambridge, England. 05 Amadon, D. 1950. The Hawaiian honeycreepers (Aves:Drepaniidae). Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 95:151-262. 06 Shallenberger, R. 1978. Hawaii's birds. Hawaii Audubon Soc., Honolulu. 07 Scott, J.M., J.L. Sincock, and A.J. Berger. 1980. Records of nests, eggs, nestlings and cavity nesters of endemic passerine birds in Hawaii. 'Elepaio 40:163-168. 08 Munro, G.C. 1940. The ou. 'Elepaio 1(5):1. 09 American Ornithologist's Union. 1983. Check-list of North American birds, Sixth ed. Allen Press, Lawrence, KS. 10 Munro, G.C. 1940. A vanishing bird (ou). 'Elepaio 1(4,5):1. 11 Henshaw, H.W. 1902. Birds of the Hawaiian Islands, being a complete list of the birds of the Hawaiian possessions with notes on their habits. T.G. Thrum, Honolulu. 12 Munro, G.C. 1944. Birds of Hawaii. Tongg Publ. Co., Honolulu. 13 Perkins, R.C.L. 1919. On a new genus and species of bird of the family Drepanididae from the Hawaiian Islands. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser.9 3:250-252. Taylor and Francis, London. 14 Olson, S.L. and H.F. James. 1982. Prodromus of the fossil avifauna of the Hawaiian Islands. Smithsonian Contr. Zool. 365. 15 Perkins, R.C.L. 1893. Notes on collecting in Kona, Hawaii. Ibis 6(5):101-114. 16 Titcomb, M. and W.C. Gagne. 1976. List of Hawaiian bird names. 'Elepaio 36(10):117-126. 17 Dunmire, W.W. 1960. Peterson's visit on the Island of Hawaii. 'Elepaio 21(3):12-13. 18 Pukui, M.K. and S.H. Elbert. 1957. Hawaii-English dictionary. Univ. Hawaii Press, Honolulu. 19 Banko, W.E. 1979. History of endemic Hawaiian bird specimens in museum collections. Avian History Report 2, Coop. Nat. Park. Res. Studies Unit, Univ. Hawaii, Honolulu. 20 Bryan, W.A. 1908. Some birds of Molokai. Occ. Pap. B.P. Bishop Museum 1:129-137. 21 Banko, W. 1971. Preservation of Maui's endangered forest birds. Condor 73(1):120-121. 22 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1983. Hawaii Forest Bird Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR. 23 Scott, J.M., S. Mountainspring, F.L. Ramsey, and C.B. Kepler. 1986. Forest bird communities of the Hawaiian Islands: Their dynamics, ecology, and conservation. Studies in Avian Biology 9. References - 1 (DRAFT) - References Species 'O'U Species Id ESIS101027 Date 14 MAR 96 24 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1984. Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR. 25 Greenway, J.C., Jr. 1958. Extinct and vanishing birds of the world. Special Publ. 13, Amer. Committee for Internat. Wildlife Protection, New York. 26 Anon. 1973. Hawaii's endangered forest birds. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR. 27 Berger, A.J. 1972. Hawaiian birdlife. Univ. Press of Hawaii, Honolulu. 28 Berger, A.J. 1972. Hawaiian birds. Wilson Bull. 84(2):212-222. 29 Berger, A.J. 1975. Hawaiian honeycreepers, 1778-1974. 'Elepaio 35(9,10). 30 Bryan, E.H., Jr. 1940. A summary of the Hawaiian birds. Proc. Sixth Pacific Sci. Congress 4:185-189. 31 Bryan, W.A. 1915. Natural history of Hawaii. The Hawaiian Gazette Co., Ltd., Honolulu. P.309. 32 Griffin, J. 1978. Ecology of the feral pig on the Island of Hawaii. Pittman-Robertson Proj. W-17-R, Study R-III. Available from: Hawaii Dept. Land and Natural Resources, Honolulu. 33 Griffin, J. 1982. Ecology of mouflon sheep on Mauna Kea. Pittman-Robertson Proj. W-17-R, Study R-III. Available from: Hawaii Dept. Land and Natural Resources, Honolulu. 34 Haley, D. 1975. The last oo. Defenders of Wildlife. 1975:476-479. 35 Judd, C.S. 1927. The story of the forests of Hawaii. Paradise of the Pacific 40(10):9-18. 36 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1984. Maui-Molokai Forest Bird Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR. 37 King, W.B. 1977. Red Data Book, Vol. 2: Birds. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Morges, Switz. 38 Kirch, P. 1982. The impact of the prehistoric Polynesians on the Hawaiian ecosystems. Pacific Sci. 36:1-14. 39 Olson, S.L. and H.F. James. 1982. Fossil birds from the Hawaiian Islands: Evidence of wholesale extinction by man before western contact. Science 217:633-635. 40 Richardson, R. and J. Bowles. 1964. A survey of the birds of Kauai, Hawaii. B.P. Bishop Mus. Bull. 227. 41 Scott, J.M. and J.L. Sincock. 1985. Hawaiian birds. Audubon Wildlife Report 1985. Pp.549-562. 42 Sincock, J.L. 1967-1984. Personal observations. Biologist in Charge, Kauai Field Station, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Retired. Current address: P.O. Box P, Uniontown, PA 15401. 43 Smith, C.W. 1985. Impact of alien plants on Hawaii's native biota. Pages 180-243. IN: Hawaii's terrestrial ecosystems, preservation and management. Proc. symposium June 5-6, 1984. University of Hawaii. Stone, C.P. and J.M. Scott. eds. 44 Tinker, S.W. 1938. Animals of Hawaii. Nippi Jiji Publ. Co., Ltd., Honolulu. 188pp. 45 Warner, R.E. 1961. Hawaii's birds-birth and death of an island biota. Pacific Discovery 14(5):6-14. 46 Warshauer, F.R. 1980. An overview of the feral pig problem in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Pages 476-480. IN: Proceedings References - 2 (DRAFT) - References Species 'O'U Species Id ESIS101027 Date 14 MAR 96 Second Conf. on Scientific Research in the National Parks. Vol. 8. National Park Service, Washington, D.C. 47 Warshauer, F.R., J.D. Jacobi, A.M. La Rosa, J.M. Scott, and C.W. Smith. 1983. The distribution, impact and potential management of the introduced vine (Passiflora mollissima) in Hawaii. Tech. Rept. 48, Coop. Natl. Park Research Study, Univ. Hawaii, Honolulu, HI. 48 Wenkham, R. 1967. Kauai and the back country of Hawaii. Sierra Club, San Francisco, CA. 159 pp. 49 Yates, S. 1984. On the cutting edge of extinction. Audubon 1984:62-85. 50 Atkinson, I.A.E. 1977. A reassessment of factors, particularly Rattus rattus L., that influenced the decline of endemic forest birds in the Hawaiian Islands. Pacific Sci. 31:109-133. 51 Laird, M. and C. van Riper, III. 1981. Questionable reports of Plasmodium from birds in Hawaii, with recognition of P. relictum ssp. capistranoae (Russel, 1932) as the avian parasite there. Pages 159-165. IN: Parasitological topics. E.V. Canning, ed. Soc. Protozool., Spec. Publ. 1. 52 van Riper, C., III, S.G. van Riper, M.L. Goff, and M. Laird. 1982. The impact of malaria on birds in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Tech. Rept. 47, Coop. Nat. Res. Stud. Unit Univ. Hawaii, Honolulu. 53 Warner, R.E. 1968. The role of introduced diseases in the extinction of the endemic Hawaiian avifauna. Condor 70:101-120. 54 Henshaw, H.W. 1910. Pages 61-64. [Letter in report of the Board of Commissioners of Agriculture and Forestry of the territory of Hawaii.] IN: Rept. of the Committee on the Introduction of Birds into the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaiian Gazette Co., Ltd. 55 Henshaw, W.E. 1901. Introduction of foreign birds into the Hawaiian Islands with notes on some of the introduced species. The Hawaiian Annual 27:132-142. 56 Moulton, M.P. and S.L. Pimm. 1983. The introduced Hawaiian avifauna: Biogeographic evidence for competition. Am. Nat. 121:699-690. 57 Mountainspring, S. and J.M. Scott. 1985. Interspecific competition among Hawaiian forest birds. Ecol. Monogr. 55(2):219-239. 58 Mull, M.E. 1974. Critique Re: Environmental Impact Statement for a reforestation project within portion of the Waiakea, upper Waiakea and Olaa Forest Reserves to Dr. Richard E. Marland, Office of Environmental Quality Control from Mae E. Mull, corresponding secretary and Big Island representative, 1 November 1973. 59 Mull, M.E. 1977. Industrial forestry for Hawaii. 'Elepaio 38(4):39-40. 60 Mull, M.E. 1979. Society critiques hapu'u harvesting. 'Elepaio 39(7):72-75. 61 Howarth, F.G. 1977. "Clean" vs. "Dirty" species - what birds can be imported into Hawaii. 'Elepaio 38(4):45. 62 Armstrong, R.W., ed. 1973. Atlas of Hawaii. University Press of Hawaii, Honolulu. ***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY ***** References - 3 (DRAFT) - References Species 'O'U Species Id ESIS101027 Date 14 MAR 96 01 Rothschild, W. 1893-1900. The avifauna of Laysan and the neighboring islands. 3 Vols. R.H. Porter, London. 02 Wilson, S.B. and A.H. Evans. 1890-1899. Aves Hawaiienses: The birds of the Sandwich Islands. R.H. Porter, London. 03 Perkins, R.C.L. 1903. Vertebrata. Pages 365-466. IN: Fauna Hawaiiensis, Vol. 1, Part IV. D. Sharp, ed. The University Press, Cambridge, England. 04 Munro, G.C. 1944. Birds of Hawaii. Tongg Publ. Co., Honolulu. 05 Berger, A.J. 1981. Hawaiian birdlife, Second ed. Univ. Press of Hawaii, Honolulu. 06 Banko, W.E. 1979. History of endemic Hawaiian bird specimens in museum collections. Avian History Report 2, Coop. Nat. Park. Res. Studies Unit, Univ. Hawaii, Honolulu. 07 Sincock, J.L. 1967-1984. Personal observations. Biologist in Charge, Kauai Field Station, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Retired. Current address: P.O. Box P, Uniontown, PA 15401. 08 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1984. Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR. 09 Scott, J.M., S. Mountainspring, F.L. Ramsey, and C.B. Kepler. 1986. Forest bird communities of the Hawaiian Islands: Their dynamics, ecology, and conservation. Studies in Avian Biology 9. 10 Strine, P.A. 1986. Refuge established for endangered Hawaiian forest birds. Endangered Species Tech. Bull. 11(1):5. 11 Bryan, W.A. 1908. Some birds of Molokai. Occ. Pap. B.P. Bishop Museum 1:129-137. 12 Pekelo, N., Jr. 1967. [Letter regarding status of Molokai birds.] 'Elepaio 27:90-91. 13 Munro, G.C. 1944. Comments on birds of Hawaii. 'Elepaio 5(4):21-25. 14 Munro, G.C. 1945. Endangered bird species of Hawaii. 'Elepaio 6(1):1-6. 15 Banko, W. 1971. Preservation of Maui's endangered forest birds. Condor 73(1):120-121. 16 Bryan, W.A. and A. Seale. 1901. Notes on the birds of Kauai. Occas. Pap. B.P. Bishop Museum 1:129-137. 17 Olson, S.L. and H.F. James. 1982. Prodromus of the fossil avifauna of the Hawaiian Islands. Smithsonian Contr. Zool. 365. 18 Banko, W. [In press] History of endemic Hawaiian birds. Part 1. Population histories - species accounts; Forest birds (6 taxa), Drepanididae:Pseudonestor-Psittirostra. Coop. Natl. Park Res. Studies Unit., Univ. Hawaii, Honolulu. 19 Conant, S. 1981. Recent observations of endangered birds in Hawaii's National Parks. 'Elepaio 41(7):55-60. 20 Richardson, R. and J. Bowles. 1964. A survey of the birds of Kauai, Hawaii. B.P. Bishop Mus. Bull. 227. 21 King, B. 1961. Field notes in Hawaii. 'Elepaio 22(1):1-3. 22 Ord, W.M. 1963. Birds of the month. 'Elepaio 24(5):22-23. 23 Walker, R.L. 1964. Report on a recent field trip to the Alakai Wilderness Preserve. 'Elepaio 24(10):48-49. 24 Huber, L.N. 1966. Alakai Swamp, March 1965. 'Elepaio 26(8):71. 25 Throp, J. 1968. Minutes of meeting, May, 1968. 'Elepaio 28(11). 26 Gauthey, J.R., I. Atkinson and C. Huddleston. 1968. A trip into the Alakai Plateau. 'Elepaio 29(3):19-20. References - 4 (DRAFT) - References Species 'O'U Species Id ESIS101027 Date 14 MAR 96 27 Mull, W.P. and M.E. Mull. 1971. Sighting of 'o'u on Kauai trip. 'Elepaio 32(6):51-54. 28 Hart, A. 1973. Minutes of meeting. 'Elepaio 34(9):107. 29 Shallenberg, R., S. Conant, and D. Pratt. 1975. Minutes of meeting-on a trip to Alakai Swamp, Kauai. 'Elepaio 36(12):154. 30 Munro, G.C. 1940. A vanishing bird (ou). 'Elepaio 1(4,5):1. 31 Perkins, R.C.L. 1893. Notes on collecting in Kona, Hawaii. Ibis 6(5):101-114. 32 Richards, L.P. and P.H. Baldwin. 1953. Recent records of some Hawaiian honeycreepers. Condor 55:221-222. 33 Amadon, D.L. 1945. Birding in Hawaii National Park. 'Elepaio 5(9):55-56. 34 Donaghho, W.R. 1951. Journal of ornithological work during the summer of 1937. 'Elepaio 9-12. 35 Baldwin, H.S. 1956. 1955 Christmas bird count Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. 'Elepaio 16(8):41-42. 36 Dunmire, W.W. 1960. Peterson's visit on the Island of Hawaii. 'Elepaio 21(3):12-13. 37 Dunmire, W.W. 1962. Bird populations in Hawaii National Park. 'Elepaio 22(9):65-70. 38 Whitten, H. 1977. Fish and Wildlife Service finds almost 40 'o'u on Big Island. 'Elepaio 38(4):46-47. 39 Pyle, R. 1977. Bird observations Mar-July 1977. 'Elepaio 38(5):77. 40 Smith, S. and D. Smith. 1971. Field notes. 'Elepaio 32:16. 41 Smith, H.E. and J. Jacobi. 1974. Field notes from the Big Island. 'Elepaio 35:20-21. 42 van Riper, C., III. 1978. An 'o'u observation at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. 'Elepaio 39(3):32-33. 43 Katahira, L. 1979. Volcano, Hawaii, Christmas Count. 'Elepaio 39:119-120. 44 Katahira, L. Volcano, Hawaii, Christmas Counts, 1980, 82, 83, 84. 'Elepaio 45(12):127. 45 Pyle, R. 1980. Bird observations, Mar. to July, 1979. 'Elepaio 41(6). References - 5