UH System Repository :: Browsing by Author "Camp, Richard J."

Browsing by Author "Camp, Richard J."

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2015-2016 Palila abundance estimates
(2016-05-29) Camp, Richard J.; Brinck, Kevin W.; Banko, Paul C.
The palila (Loxioides bailleui) population was surveyed annually during 1998−2016 on Mauna Kea Volcano to determine abundance, population trend, and spatial distribution. In the latest surveys, the 2015 population was estimated at 852−1,406 birds (point estimate: 1,116) and the 2016 population was estimated at 1,494−2,385 (point estimate: 1,934). Similar numbers of palila were detected during the first and subsequent counts within each year during 2012−2016; the proportion of the total annual detections in each count ranged from 46% to 56%; and there was no difference in the detection probability due to count sequence. Furthermore, conducting repeat counts improved the abundance estimates by reducing the width of the confidence intervals between 9% and 32% annually. This suggests that multiple counts do not affect bird or observer behavior and can be continued in the future to improve the precision of abundance estimates. Five palila were detected on supplemental survey stations in the Ka‘ohe restoration area, outside the core survey area but still within Palila Critical Habitat (one in 2015 and four in 2016), suggesting that palila are present in habitat that is recovering from cattle grazing on the southwest slope. The average rate of decline during 1998−2016 was 150 birds per year. Over the 18-year monitoring period, the estimated rate of change equated to a 58% decline in the population.
2017-2018 Palila abundance estimates and trend
(2018-12-25) Genz, Ayesha S.; Brinck, Kevin W.; Camp, Richard J.; Banko, Paul C.
The palila (Loxioides bailleui) population was surveyed annually from 1998–2018 on Mauna Kea Volcano to determine abundance, population trend, and spatial distribution. In the latest surveys, the 2017 population was estimated at 1,177−1,813 birds (point estimate: 1,461) and the 2018 population was estimated at 778−1,420 (point estimate: 1,051). Only two palila were detected outside the core survey area during a mountain-wide survey in 2017, suggesting that most, if not all, palila inhabit the western slope during the annual survey period. Since 1998, the size of the area containing palila detections on the western slope did not show a significant change, suggesting that the range of the species has remained stable; although this area represents only about 5% of its historical extent. During 1998−2003, palila numbers fluctuated moderately (coefficient of variation [CV] = 0.20). After peaking in 2003, population estimates declined steadily through 2011; since 2010, estimates have continued to decline at a slower rate. The average rate of decline during 1998−2018 was 168 birds per year with very strong statistical support for an overall declining trend in abundance. Over the 21-year monitoring period, the estimated rate of change equated to a 76% decline in the population.
2019–2021 Palila abundance estimates and trend
(2022-01-24) Genz, Ayesha S.; Brinck, Kevin W.; Asing, Chauncey K.; Berry, Lainie; Camp, Richard J.; Banko, Paul C.
The palila (Loxioides bailleui) population on Mauna Kea Volcano, Hawai‘i Island, was estimated from annual surveys in 2019−2021, and a trend analysis was performed on survey data from 1998−2021. The 2019 population was estimated at 1,030−1,899 birds (point estimate: 1,432), the 2020 population was estimated at 964−1,700 birds (point estimate: 1,312), and the 2021 population was estimated at 452−940 birds (point estimate: 678). Since 1998, a visual inspection of the size of the area containing palila detections on the western slope based on the minimum/maximum elevations has not shown a substantial change, indicating that the range of the species has remained stable; although this area represents only about 5% of its historical extent. During 1998−2005, palila numbers fluctuated between 4,000 and 6,000, followed by a steep decline. After 2010, palila estimates stabilized around an abundance of 2,000 with a much slower rate of decline. The decline during 1998−2021 was on average 229 birds per year with very strong statistical support for an overall downward trend in abundance. Over the 23-year monitoring period, the estimated rate of change equated to an 89% decline in the population.
2021 Tinian Island forest bird abundance estimates
(2022-05-26) Camp, Richard J.; Bak, Trevor; Genz, Ayesha S.
The U.S. Navy, through Micronesian Environmental Services, surveyed landbirds in the Military Lease Area on Tinian Island in May and June 2021 using point-transect distance sampling methods. There were 2,074 individuals of 14 species detected during 123 point counts. Six species were detected during >50% of the counts and were observed at relatively high abundances, while eight species occurred at <50% of the counts and were uncommon to rare. Densities of native landbirds in the Military Lease Area ranged from the uncommon Mariana kingfisher (Todiramphus albicilla) at 0.46 birds/ha (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.33–0.63) to the very abundant bridled white-eye (Zosterops conspicillatus) at 102.63 birds/ha (95%CI = 86.70–122.91). Most distances recorded during the 2021 Military Lease Area survey were rounded to distance intervals of 0 and 5. Measuring exact distances of detected animals is preferable to collecting distances grouped into bins or rounding. Direct comparison with previously published estimates was not possible because of changes in the sampling frame; however, densities of six species were greater, two were smaller, and one was similar to the 2008 survey estimates for the Hagoi, Diablo, and Masalog regions. Our findings indicate that the landbird community in the Military Lease Area appears to be dynamic and resilient.
Abundance, distribution, and population trend of the Hawaiian Hawk; 1998-2007.
(2008-04) Gorresen, P. Marcos; Camp, Richard J.; Klavitter, John L.; Pratt, Thane K.
The current population size and distribution of the endemic Hawaiian Hawk (or`Io in Hawaiian, Buteo solitarius) on Hawai`i Island was determined as part of a reevaluation of the species’ endangered status. Locations originally sampled in 1998 were resurveyed in 2007 with variable circular plot (VCP) count methods to produce habitat-specific estimates of density and assess trends in abundance. In addition, we developed a method for correcting density estimates for the unobserved movement of hawks attracted to call playbacks. We estimated that the 5,755 km2 breeding range harbored 3,239 hawks (95% CI = 2,610 to 3,868) in 1998 and 3,085 hawks (95% CI = 2,496 to 3,680) in 2007. No significant difference in densities was found among years at either regional or island-wide scales. However, pooled 1998 and 2007 densities did show significant differences among habitats and regions. Our 1998 and 2007 population estimates are as much as twice that of previous estimates, and we discuss reasons for this including differences among studies in the accuracy of distance estimation, accounting for unobserved hawk movement, and the extent of area used for the extrapolation of mean densities. The Hawaiian Hawk appears to persist as a viable population well-distributed throughout forest and adjacent habitats on Hawai`i Island. However, with a population comprised of about 3,000 individuals confined to a single island, the species is vulnerable to the effects of human-caused change to its habitat base.
Camera trap distance sampling survey design, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam
(2023-07-18) Camp, Richard J.; Bak, Trevor M.
Reliable population estimates of animal density is one of the most elementary needs for the control and management of wildlife, particularly for introduced ungulates on oceanic islands. On Guam, Philippine deer (Rusa marianna) and wild pigs (Sus scrofa; wild boar and descendants of domestic pigs) cause agricultural and ecological damage and are hunted for recreational, nutritional, and cultural uses. Most common population estimation methods are based on capture-recapture and related methods that require marking or uniquely identifying individuals. Capturing, marking, and either recapturing or resighting individuals repeatedly is labor intensive and expensive. In many situations marking or individually distinguishing animals is not feasible, necessitating estimating densities and abundance from unmarked animal populations. Motion-triggered camera traps are a relatively low-cost approach that can be used to generate presence/pseudo-absence and indices of relative abundance on multiple species simultaneously. We used distance sampling with camera traps to estimate deer and pig densities from non-independent observations of unmarked animals while accounting for imperfect detection where some present individuals are not detected. We present methods to (1) process the digital imagery data automatically for species detection and species categorization using a machine learning algorithm, (2) automatically estimate distance to detected species using a separate machine learning algorithm, and (3) estimate densities using distance sampling with camera trap methods. We compare accuracy statistics and results of ungulate densities estimated from automated methods to those estimated from manual assessment. We collected 7,695 videos: 381 videos contained deer and 377 contained pigs. The object detection and identification model performed well with overall accuracy above 80% and F1 scores above 0.9. The hazard-rate key detection function was chosen for deer and pigs based on Akaike’s information criterion accounting for overdispersion. Deer density estimates were 0.53 ± 0.20 deer/ha with higher density in the Plateau area than the Tarague area of Guam. Pig density estimates were 0.53 ± 0.32 pigs/ha, also with higher densities in the Plateau area than the Tarague area. Coefficients of variation ranged from 0.38 to 1.15, and greater numbers of camera traps would be required for pigs than deer to achieve desired coefficients of variation. On average, 101.9 ± 82.3 deer and 131.6 ± 118.8 pigs were detected per day. Microsite heterogeneity affected densities where orientation-specific estimates were less precise than estimates made with the full dataset. We developed a camera trap survey design based on standard camera trapping sampling protocols using motion-activated, digital cameras and determined that distance sampling methods using camera traps produce reliable densities of unmarked deer and pigs on Guam. Our camera trap survey design is based on a regularly sized trapping grid that is generalizable and can be expanded to survey other areas of Guam.
Design of forest bird monitoring for strategic habitat conservation on Kaua`i Island, Hawai`i
(2011-07) Camp, Richard J.; Gorresen, P. Marcos
This report was commissioned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The purpose was to develop a monitoring program for Kaua`i forest birds in the USFWS Strategic Habitat Conservation and adaptive management frameworks. Monitoring within those frameworks is a tool to assess resource responses to management and conservation actions, and through an iterative learning process improve our understanding of species recovery, effective management, and knowledge gaps. This report provides only the monitoring component of both frameworks, and we apply the monitoring program to the East Alaka`i Protective Fence Project. The East Alaka`i Protective Fence Project is a joint project by the USFWS, State of Hawai`i Division of Forest and Wildlife, Kaua`i Watershed Alliance, and The Nature Conservancy to restore and preserve an 809 ha area of native forest bird habitat through fencing, and ungulate and weed control. The primary purpose of the project is to restore and preserve the habitat that will in turn support abundant and resilient bird populations. This report contains: • A monitoring program specifically developed to track bird distribution, density and demography, and habitat for the East Alaka`i Protective Fence Project; • A review of the Kaua`i forest bird surveys; • A description of the current status and trends of Kaua`i forest birds; • An assessment and evaluation of the current surveys; • A monitoring program developed to sample bird distribution, density and demography, and habitat at three general levels of spatial scale. Without the management components described in the East Alaka`i Protective Fence Project and the Revised Recovery Plan for Hawaiian Forest Birds (USFWS 2006) the bird monitoring recommended in this report is little better than surveillance (i.e., monitoring without a link to management). If, however, the proposed management actions are implemented in conjunction with the recommended bird monitoring, then this monitoring program will identify population changes in a timely manner and facilitate identification of the proximate causes of population changes.
Evaluation of data collected by Guam Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources during population establishment and monitoring of ko'ko' (Hypotaenidia owstoni) on Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and wildlife monitoring datasets on Cocos Island and Guam
(2024-03-29) Camp, Richard J.; Nash, Sarah A. B.; Paxton, Kristina L.
Efforts to recover the critically endangered ko’ko’ (Guam rail, Hypotaenidia owstoni) through establishing an experimental population on the island of Rota in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands have been ongoing for three decades. The U.S. Geological Survey collaborated with the Guam Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources and the Government of Guam to evaluate whether objectives for three projects can be met with current protocols. The aim of this report was to evaluate existing data provided on (1) ko’ko’ population monitoring on Rota; (2) ko’ko’ population establishment on Rota; plus (3) evaluation of three wildlife monitoring datasets for ko’ko’ on Cocos Island, endangered pulattat (Mariana common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus guami) on Guam, and introduced ungulate species on Guam. Data sources included playback call surveys, point count surveys, release events and studbook information, telemetry of radio-marked birds, as well as landcover classes, storm events, and Oceanic Niño Index information to relate environmental factors to ko’ko’ persistence. Major findings were that reaching objectives was constrained by limited data availability and quality. Suggestions for future study include developing detailed protocols for surveys and data collection, standardizing training procedures for observers, improving data organization and archiving, using methods like distance sampling that account for imperfect detection, and collecting additional data on nests and prey resources to understand drivers of ko’ko’ density and survival. While the current data provide a preliminary assessment, improved sampling designs and consistent protocols are needed to fully address objectives related to the recovery of the ko’ko’. The report provides a roadmap for enhancing data collection and analysis to support management decisions and reach conservation translocation goals about this endangered species and related projects.
Forest bird populations at the Big Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Hawai‘i
(2022-04-13) Kendall, Steven J.; Rounds, Rachel A.; Camp, Richard J.; Genz, Ayesha S.
Endemic Hawaiian forest birds have experienced dramatic population declines. The Big Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex (BINWRC) was created for conservation of endangered Hawaiian forest birds and their habitats. Surveys have been conducted at two units of BINWRC to monitor forest bird populations and their response to management actions. We analyzed survey data from 1987 to 2019 at the Hakalau Forest Unit (HFU) and from 1995 to 2019 at the Kona Forest Unit (KFU). We analyzed three strata at HFU: open-forest, closed-forest, and pasture, and two strata at the KFU: upper (>1524 m elevation) and lower (<1524 m). In all years, ‘i‘iwi (Drepanis coccinea), ‘apapane (Himatione sanguinea), and Hawai‘i ‘amakihi (Chlorodrepanis virens virens) were the most abundant species at HFU. The three endangered forest bird species, Hawai‘i ‘ākepa (Loxops coccineus), ‘alawī (Loxops mana, also known as Hawai‘i creeper) and ‘akiapōlā‘au (Hemignathus wilsoni), had much lower densities. The most abundant species at KFU was ‘apapane, followed by Hawai‘i ‘amakihi and warbling white-eye (Zosterops japonicus) at much lower densities. At HFU we found a continuation of several trends observed in previous analyses from 1987–2012, with most species’ trends upward in pasture stratum, stable in the open-forest stratum, and downward in the closed-forest stratum. However, when we looked at the most recent decade at HFU, more species were showing downward trends in all three strata. At KFU results were mixed, with more species’ trends downward in the upper stratum and more species’ trends upward in the lower stratum. Populations of endangered forest species were either locally extirpated at KFU or in numbers too low to reliably estimate population densities. Both units in the BINWRC are important for conservation of forest birds on Hawai‘i Island, and our results show that HFU supports the majority of the three endangered forest bird species found on Hawai‘i Island. Our analysis also shows the importance of continuous monitoring and timely analysis to track forest bird populations. With the additional data provided by continued surveys, we determined conclusive population trends for species whose trends were previously inconclusive. Knowing current population densities, abundances, and trends allows managers to evaluate and adapt management actions to support forest bird conservation at the BINWRC.
Forest bird populations at the Pu'u Wa'awa'a Forest Bird Sanctuary and Pu'u Wa'awa'a Forest Reserve, Hawai'i
(2023-09) Kendall, Steven J.; Camp, Richard J.; Wang, Alex; Berry, Lainie; Nietmann, Lindsey
Endemic Hawaiian forest birds have exhibited dramatic population declines since human colonization of Hawai‘i. The Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest Bird Sanctuary and adjacent Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest Reserve on Hawai‘i Island were established in 2002 to conserve endemic forest birds and their habitats. Surveys have been conducted in this area to monitor forest bird populations and their response to management actions since 1979. We analyzed point-transect distance sampling survey data collected between 1990 and 2022 in the Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest Bird Sanctuary and forested portions of the adjacent forest reserve. There were 20 passerine or psittacine species detected of which 6 were native species and 14 were non-native species. In all years, Hawai‘i ‘amakihi (Chlorodrepanis virens virens), ‘apapane (Himatione sanguinea), and warbling white-eye (Zosterops japonicus) were the most abundant species, and in most years ‘i‘iwi (Drepanis coccinea) was the fourth most abundant species. ‘I‘iwi and Hawai‘i ‘amakihi had stable long-term (1990–2022) population trends, and trends for ‘apapane were inconclusive, while warbling white-eye had upward trends. In recent years (2016–2022), ‘apapane had downward trends, ‘i‘iwi and warbling white-eye had upward trends, and trends for ‘amakihi were inconclusive. Populations of Hawai‘i ‘elepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis) and the endangered Hawai‘i ‘ākepa (Loxops coccineus) and ‘alawī (Loxops mana) were either locally extirpated or in numbers too low to reliably estimate population densities and trends. The Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest Bird Sanctuary and adjacent Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest Reserve are important for the conservation of forest birds on Hawai‘i Island as one of few areas of mesic to dry forests being specifically managed for forest bird conservation. Conservation efforts at the Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest Bird Sanctuary and Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Forest Reserve would benefit from continued annual surveys and regular monitoring, and timely analysis of survey data to track responses in forest bird populations to evaluate and adapt management actions.
Hawai`i forest bird monitoring database: Database dictionary
(2017-09-15) Camp, Richard J.; Genz, Ayesha S.
Between 1976 and 1981, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (now U.S. Geological Survey – Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center [USGS-PIERC]) conducted systematic surveys of forest birds and plant communities on all the main Hawaiian Islands, except O‘ahu, as part of the Hawai‘i Forest Bird Surveys (HFBS). Results of this monumental effort have guided conservation efforts and provided the basis for many plant and bird recovery plans and land acquisition decisions in Hawai‘i. Unfortunately, these estimates and range maps are now seriously outdated, hindering modern conservation decision-making and recovery planning. HFBIDP staff work closely with land managers and others to identify the location of bird populations in need of protection. In addition, HFBIDP is able to assess field collection methods, census areas, and survey frequency for their effectiveness. Survey and geographical data are refined and released in successive versions, each more inclusive, detailed, and accurate than the previous release. Incrementally releasing data gives land managers and survey coordinators reasonably good data to work with early on rather than waiting for the release of ‘perfect’ data, ‘perfectly’ analyzed. Consequently, summary results are available in a timely manner.
Measurement errors in Hawaiian forest bird surveys and their effect on density estimation.
(2007-03) Camp, Richard J.
Reliable count data are necessary for valid density estimation. Before each Hawaiian bird survey, observers go through a training and calibration exercise where they record measurements from a station center point to flagging placed about the station. The true distances are measured, and when an observer's measurements are within 10% of truth the observer is considered calibrated and ready for surveying. Observers tend to underestimate distances, especially for distant measures (e.g., true distance > 50 m). All proposed empirical distribution functions failed to adequately identify the function form of the calibration data. The effect of measurement errors were assessed with populations of known density in a simulation study. By simulations, using the true distances, the conventional estimator seems unbiased; however, in the presence of measurement errors the estimator is biased upward, resulting in overestimated population sizes. More emphasis should be made to minimize measurement errors. Observers’ measurement errors should be small with deviances less than 10%, for example, and observers should recalibrate frequently during surveys. Truncation is not a surrogate for increased accuracy. When there are relatively large amounts of measurement error estimators to correct the errors should be developed and used. Measurement errors to birds heard but not seen needs to be calibrated, and adjustment parameters included in measurement error correction models.
Monitoring Hawaiian Biodiversity: Pilot Study to Assess Changes to forest birds and their habitat
(2017-12-12) Gorresen, P. Marcos; Camp, Richard J.; Gaudioso-Levita, Jaqueline M.; Brinck, Kevin W.; Berkowitz, S. Paul; Jacobi, James D.
Biological diversity, or biodiversity, is the variety and abundance of species in a defined area, and is one of the oldest and most basic descriptions of biological communities. Understanding how populations and communities are structured and change over space and time in response to internal and external forces is a management priority. Effective management practices and conservation strategies depend on our understanding of the relationship between changes in biodiversity and ecological drivers such as invasive species, land use and climate change. To demonstrate how changes in biodiversity may be monitored over a large (400 km2) tract of native forest habitat, we compared bird and plant community composition and structure in an upper montane region of Hawai‘i Island originally surveyed in 1977 as part of the Hawai‘i Forest Bird Survey (Scott et al. 1986) with a comprehensive sample of the same region in 2015. Our findings suggest that across a region spanning an elevation range of 600 to 2,000 m considerable changes occurred in the plant and bird communities between 1977 and 2015. Endemic and indigenous plants species richness (i.e., total number of species) decreased dramatically in the low and middle elevations below an invasive weed front, whereas naturalized plant species richness did not change between the two periods at any elevation. Endemic bird abundance decreased and two species were lost in the lower elevations (< 1,100 m) between 1977 and 2015, while naturalized bird abundance and the numbers of species increased in the same area. In addition to changes in community composition, the structure of the forest showed evidence of changes in dominant and sub-dominant tree canopy cover, shrub and herbaceous cover, dominant tree canopy height, and matted fern cover. Biodiversity monitoring helps to define specific conservation targets and to measure progress towards reaching those targets. It is difficult to ascribe causative factors to a change in biodiversity without directly manipulating the environment. Forest habitat in a variety of settings (i.e., islands and regions with differing land-use histories and elevation ranges), however, can provide opportunities to evaluate the influence of ecological drivers. Declines in native bird biodiversity in low-elevation areas may be attributed to invasive species as land use and climate conditions have remained relatively similar over the 40-year period. Thus, the shift from an endemic-naturalized co-dominated community in 1977 to one dominated by naturalized, alien birds in 2015, and reduction in native bird abundance over that period, may reflect increasing dominance by naturalized plants within this forested area. Inferences drawn from analyses of region-wide surveys, especially with replicate datasets, will facilitate the identification of broad-scale changes in biodiversity, and provide a needed current datum in Hawaiian plant and bird biodiversity monitoring.
Population trends of native Hawaiian forest birds, 1976-2008: the data and statistical analysis.
(2009-11) Camp, Richard J.; Gorresen, P. Marcos; Pratt, Thane K.; Woodworth, Bethany L.
The Hawaii Forest Bird Interagency Database Project has produced a centralized database of forest bird survey data collected in Hawai`i since the mid-1970s. The database contains over 1.1 million bird observation records of 90 species from almost 600 surveys on the main Hawaiian Islands—a dataset including nearly all surveys from that period. The primary objective has been to determine the status and trends of native Hawaiian forest birds derived from this comprehensive dataset. We generated species-specific density estimates from each survey and tested for changes in population densities over the longest possible temporal period. Although this cumulative data set seems enormous and represents the best available information on status of Hawaiian forest birds, detecting meaningful population distribution, density, and trends for forest birds in Hawai`i has been difficult. These population parameters are best derived from long-term, large-scale, standardized monitoring programs. The basis for long-term population monitoring in Hawai`i was established by the Hawaii Forest Bird Survey of 1976-1983 (Scott et al. 1986). Since then, however, only key areas have been resurveyed, primarily to monitor rare species. The majority of surveys since the early 1980s have been conducted by numerous, independent programs, resulting in some inconsistencies in methodology and sampling that in some cases has been intermittent and usually at limited scale (temporally or spatially). Thus, despite the consolidation of data into a centralized database, our understanding of population patterns is rather limited, especially at the regional and landscape scales. To rectify their deficiency, we present a framework to improve the understanding of forest bird trends in Hawai`i through an overarching monitoring design that allocates sampling at appropriate regional and temporal scales. Despite the limitations of the current monitoring effort, important generalities stand out vividly from the multiplicity of species-specific trends. Overall, in marginal habitats the Hawaiian passerine fauna continues to decline, with populations of most species shrinking in size and distribution. Since the early 1980s, 10 species that were rare at the time may now be extinct, although one, the `Alalā (Corvus hawaiiensis), survives in captivity. Dedicated search effort for the remaining nine species has been inadequate. Of the 22 species remaining, eight have declined, five appear to be stable, two are increasing, and the trend for seven species is unclear. On the bright side, native passerines, including endangered species, appear to be stable or increasing in areas with large tracts of native forest above 1,500 m elevation, even while decreasing in more fragmented or disturbed habitats, particularly at lower elevation. For example, all eight native species resident at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge have shown stable trends or significant increases in density over the long-term. Thus, native birds are ever more restricted to high-elevation forest and woodland refugia. It is these upland habitats that require sustained and all-out restoration to prevent further extinctions of Hawaiian forest birds.
Status and trends of native birds in the Keauhou and Kilauea Forest, Hawai`i Island.
(2010-05) Camp, Richard J.; Jacobi, James D.; Pratt, Thane K.; Gorresen, P. Marcos; Rubenstein, Tanya
A Safe Harbor Agreement (SHA) is a voluntary arrangement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and non-Federal landowners to promote the protection, conservation, and recovery of listed species without imposing further land use restrictions on the landowners. Kamehameha Schools is considering entering into a SHA for their Keauhou and Kīlauea Forest lands on the island of Hawai′i. Bird surveys were conducted in 2008 to determine the current occurrence and density of listed species for the Keauhou and Kīlauea Forest, a prerequisite for establishing an agreement. Because of different management practices in the proposed SHA area we stratified the survey data into intact and altered forest strata. The listed passerines—′Akiapōlā′au (Hemignathus munroi), Hawai′i Creeper (Oreomystis mana), and Hawai′i ′Ākepa (Loxops coccineus)—occur in both strata but at low densities. The endangered ′Io (Hawaiian Hawk; Buteo solitarius) also occurs within both strata at low densities. This report was prepared for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Kamehameha Schools to provide information they can use to establish baseline levels for the SHA. In addition, we describe the status and trends of the non-listed native birds.

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