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Conservation Biology of Hawaiian Forest Birds: Implications for Island Avifauna
Hawaii’s forest bird community is the most insular and most endangered in the world and serves as a case study for threatened species globally. Ten have disappeared in the past thirty years, nine are critically endangered, and even common species are currently in decline. Thane K. Pratt, his coeditors, and collaborators, all leaders in their field, describe the research and conservation efforts over the past thirty years to save Hawaii’s forest birds. They also offer the most comprehensive look at the reasons for these extinctions and attempts to overcome them in the future. Among the topics covered in this book are trends in bird populations, environmental and genetic factors limiting population size, avian diseases, predators, and competing alien bird species. Color plates by award-winning local photographer Jack Jeffrey illustrate all living species discussed or described.
728 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 5, 2014
I have spent enough time on The Big Island discussing this subject with some of the contributors to this book to know just how serious this subject is. That is to say, I'm somewhat biassed.
I recall my sister had made coffee for me one morning. The clock on the wall chirped and sang, announcing the passing of time. Each hour on the face of the clock had a different bird so that the picture and the bird-call matched. I asked her why they didn't make a clock like that with native Hawaiian forest birds. She answered quite simply, "There aren't enough left." There weren't 12 species remaining to put on a clock. Invading species of birds compete for resources and rats as well as wasps invade the nests.
The book goes into extraordinary detail, and quite frankly, I doubt I can fairly characterize the findings of this work; it is written by biologists, and parts of it go over my head. Despite that, I am still moved by the efforts of the writers and editors that dedicated such a huge chunk of their lives to the monitoring and defense of the island avifauna.
From the Cover: "This book is at once an encyclopedia chronicling a global-scale tragedy, and a call-to-arms for saving and restoring what remains of the unique and beautiful Hawaiian avifauna."
Congratulations to everyone involved. Masterfully done.
I recall my sister had made coffee for me one morning. The clock on the wall chirped and sang, announcing the passing of time. Each hour on the face of the clock had a different bird so that the picture and the bird-call matched. I asked her why they didn't make a clock like that with native Hawaiian forest birds. She answered quite simply, "There aren't enough left." There weren't 12 species remaining to put on a clock. Invading species of birds compete for resources and rats as well as wasps invade the nests.
The book goes into extraordinary detail, and quite frankly, I doubt I can fairly characterize the findings of this work; it is written by biologists, and parts of it go over my head. Despite that, I am still moved by the efforts of the writers and editors that dedicated such a huge chunk of their lives to the monitoring and defense of the island avifauna.
From the Cover: "This book is at once an encyclopedia chronicling a global-scale tragedy, and a call-to-arms for saving and restoring what remains of the unique and beautiful Hawaiian avifauna."
Congratulations to everyone involved. Masterfully done.
June 12, 2012
This book assembles the latest observational data on Hawaiian forest birds into one extremely useful synthetic source.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews