In fall 2012 and January 2013, Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project had several productive field trips into both The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Waikamoi Preserve and the Nakula Natural Area Reserve (NAR).

After a trip into the Nakula NAR in the summer of 2012, the MFBRP team selected a camp site for the new trial restoration project that we are implementing in collaboration with The State of Hawaii Division of Land and Natural Resources and the American Bird Conservancy. This reserve is on the leeward, or southeast slope, of Haleakala Mountain. The area currently has vast understory damage due to invasive ungulates including pigs, goats and feral cows. A fence has been built around a portion of the reserve and ungulates are currently being removed. This location will be the site of experimental trial restoration efforts over the next several years in order to create new habitat for the Maui Parrotbill and find the best course of action for managers to eventally re-location site to establish a second population of Maui Parrotbill. A camp at the designated base site was built in September 2012 by MFBRP staff and two volunteers, Jamie Davidson and Chris Brosius.

In October, we had two volunteers join us, Laura Marie Koitsch and Renee Peter. They came into the Nakula NAR to set up plots that will be used to experiment different types of restoration- natural regeneration, seed scatter, and plantings. In order to prepare for plantings, we also collected various seeds from native plants such as koa and kolea. In December, MFBRP staff went into Nakula NAR again to collect seeds.

In addition to the Nakula trip, our volunteers, Laura Marie and Renee, also helped band in TNC’s Waikamoi Preserve. The Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project’s Barbara Heindl also joined as a volunteer. We targeted areas where we knew there were young and unbanded Kiwikiu. Color banding these birds will benefit our breeding season research beginning in February. We were able to band two new female Kiwikiu and nine new Akohekohe. In January, two more volunteers, Jen Milikowsky, former MFBRP employee, and Denise Turley went into Waikamoi to help us band again. We were able to catch three new male Kiwikiu and one more Akohekohe.

Denise also joined MFBRP staff and volunteer, Jamie Davidson in January to help collect seeds and improve camp at the Nakula NAR base camp, named Camp Release. After this last trip, we are getting closer to our seed goals for our plant propagation needs.

We appreciate all the hard work that has been done during the fall and winter. Our regular field season will begin in February and it will be exciting to start re-sighting and following the newly banded birds. Nakula seed collection trips will continue throughout the year and experimental plantings will begin fall 2013. MFBRP has had great volunteers this year.