New Hope for the ʻAlalā: Hawaiian Crows Take Flight in Maui

In a bid to revive the Hawaiian crow population, five captive-raised birds were released on Maui, marking a significant moment as the species has been extinct in the wild for 20 years. This new approach aims to provide a safer environment to protect them from hawk predation, a critical challenge that previous reintroduction efforts faced.

When the aviary door opened, five young ʻalalā, or Hawaiian crows, hesitated for a moment, peering into the unknown before taking their first steps toward freedom. With only around 110 of their kind remaining worldwide, this occasion is monumental for a species that has not seen a wild existence for two decades.

A collaborative effort involving various nonprofit organizations, state entities, and federal partners is attempting another reintroduction, but this time with a strategic twist—releasing the birds on Maui rather than their original homes on the Big Island. Conservationists believe that Maui’s environment offers a refuge from hawks, a significant predator that has previously threatened the survival of the Hawaiian crows during earlier attempts to reintroduce them to their native habitats.

“Their fate and the future of their species largely depend on this initiative,” remarked Alison Greggor, an ecologist with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, regarding the hope pinned on these resilient birds. Unlike past reintroduction efforts that resulted in disheartening outcomes, the Maui release is designed to increase their chances of survival.

From 2016 to 2019, 30 crows were released, but many eventually succumbed to predation and other threats, resulting in the eventual return of the last five birds to captivity in 2020 due to dwindling numbers. Past efforts to condition the crows to the threats of hawks were made, including exposing them to hawk sounds and live models to prompt fear responses. However, hawk predation proved to be a devastating factor.

Now, with this innovative approach of relocating to Maui, scientists remain optimistic that if these birds can establish a stable population, reintroduction to their native Big Island may one day be feasible. The stakes are high, but for the ʻalalā, this new journey could be a chance for survival, reflecting a broader mission to safeguard endangered species from the brink of extinction.