The io’s, also known as Hawaiian hawks, and the alalā, also called the Hawaiian crow, are two beloved species in Hawaii.
For Native Hawaiians, the ‘io is a physical manifestation of a past family member and a god. On the other hand, while the alalā is not considered a physical god, it is one of ‘io’s natural prey and has been extinct from the wild since 2002.
Therefore, researchers with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance partnered closely with the State of Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources- Division of Forestry and Wildlife and the University of Hawai’i at Hilo to use technology to track how the ‘io moves around the Island and utilize different habitats.
By implementing this plan, we can save the endangered species from extinction. Due to the scarcity of research on this type of bird, it is crucial to take action. Furthermore, this initiative will significantly assist in reintroducing the alalā, allowing both birds to coexist in their natural habitats again.
As the San Diego Zoo explained in a news release, this technology is “A lightweight, solar-powered GPS transmitter from Cellular Tracking Technologies is attached to the ‘io using a custom-fitted backpack harness designed to fall off over time.”
This way, scientists don’t have to relocate the hawks physically, instead, they just let them loose on the Island and can track where they have decided to relocate.
The San Diego Wildlife Alliance has sent over 40 io’s into their natural habitat and has collected over 270,000 locations from rural neighborhoods, forests, and pastures around the Island.
“It’s taken until now for wildlife telemetry devices to be miniaturized and made lightweight enough to be safely deployed on a bird such an ‘io. For the first time, we’re acquiring hard, rigorous, scientific data about the specific ecological needs of this important species. We are truly in the golden age of wildlife tracking,” said James Sheppard, Ph.D., recovery ecology scientist at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
The decline of both species is due to the loss of vegetation, climate change, and habitat fragmentation. Bringing them back requires us to reassess our everyday choices and consider the impact on our ecosystem. It’s important to remember that we are responsible for their initial decline and must make compromises to improve their situation. By doing so, we can help revive their populations and create a better environment for all.
