The Burning Basket

A few years ago, a conversation was being held to determine the fate of the Kiwikiu, or Maui parrotbill, an endangered species of Hawaiian honeycreeper.  Much of Hawaii's endemic birdlife has been lost, first when Polynesians arrived on the islands, and much of what remained after Europeans arrived.  Now, habitat loss, diseases, and an influx of invasive species threatens to finish what remains.  With fewer than 150 birds in the world, a proposal was made to pull at least some of the birds and relocate them to conservation breeding centers in the mainland US.

Much as was the case for the California condor, there was a backlash against the idea.  Whereas the condor captive-breeding protest was focused on the concept of the birds being in captivity, the Kiwikiu move was opposed on the grounds that local ornithologists didn't want the birds to leave Hawaii.  Part of the concern was about logistics - death in transit, failure to thrive in zoos outside their range - which are all legitimate concerns.  A lot of it seems to be grounded in culture.  "Place is so important because it's where our culture is rooted, and the same thing for the birds," said Bret Nainoa Mossman, a native Hawaiian ornithologist who spearheaded opposition to the move.  

One Mosquito Bite Can Kill This Endangered Hawaiian Bird - Now Officials Face Tough Choices

Photo Credit: Zach Pezzillo

Unlike the case of the condor, in this case birds were not moved.  There are no parrotbills off of Maui at this time.

Only problem is, Maui is now on fire.  They say don't leave all your eggs in one basket.  But now that basket is on fire.

From what I've heard, the captive facility on Maui that currently houses the birds - managed by the San Diego Zoo - seems to have been spared the flames, despite a close call.  Still, I feel the call was too close.  I can understand Mossman's appreciation of the cultural importance of preserving Hawaii's birdlife, but I can't agree or support his position.  It's elevating those feelings over the survival of the species.  It also seems to disregard that the ultimate goal wouldn't be to create more parrotbills for exhibition in the mainland - it would be to remove birds from danger, and to produce more birds so that the species can be restored in Hawaii and continue to play a role in Hawaiian indigenous culture.  There should still definitely be breeding and conservation programs in Maui - the risk would just be spread out a bit, so an entire species won't be lost in one cataclysmic event.

We (and the Kiwikiu) were lucky this time.  We might not be lucky again.