Hope for the ʻAlalā: New Beginnings for Hawaiian Crows

A recent effort to reintroduce five Hawaiian crows, or ʻalalā, to Maui signals a hopeful turn for the species, which has been extinct in the wild for 20 years. This strategy aims to protect these birds from hawks that previously hindered their survival, as researchers work towards restoring the crows to their native habitat.

When the aviary door swung open, the five young Hawaiian crows took a moment to observe their surroundings before hesitantly stepping into freedom. With only around 110 of their kind remaining globally, this group represents a glimmer of hope for the ʻalalā, or Hawaiian crow, which has faced extinction in the wild for the last two decades.

In November, a collaboration of nonprofit organizations, state bodies, and federal partners attempted to reintroduce these crows with a new approach. Unlike previous efforts that returned them to the forests of the Big Island, this time the team released them on Maui. This strategic move aims to safeguard them from the hawks that decimated previous populations during their reintegration to their natural habitat.

Alison Greggor, an ecologist involved with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, emphasized the significance of this release, stating, “They are shouldering all of the hopes of their species. They are the future.”

Previous attempts to reintroduce ʻalalā were intensive but ultimately unsuccessful. Between 2016 and 2019, thirty crows were released, yet most succumbed to various threats, particularly from hawks. To prepare these birds for the wild, keepers employed tactics such as playing hawk sounds and introducing a taxidermied hawk into their environment. Though some individuals survived for over a year, they eventually disappeared, leading to the decision to return the last five survivors to captivity in 2020.

With a new focus on Maui, researchers are optimistic that the birds may finally thrive, paving the way for their eventual return to the Big Island. As the sounds of their world beckon them forward, the fate of the ʻalalā hangs delicately in the balance; a story of resilience and the ongoing battle for survival in the wild.