tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578555892697401095.post6159394418287087901..comments2024-02-26T14:21:00.877-08:00Comments on Birdernaturalist: Palila – One of the Rarest Birds in the WorldBirdernaturalisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04839261136397086450noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578555892697401095.post-4610162894259854302011-07-13T15:33:59.191-07:002011-07-13T15:33:59.191-07:00The population has a history of bouncing around be...The population has a history of bouncing around between 1000-6000, before the recent sustained decline, and it's difficult to predict where it's going from here except that it probably isn't getting significantly larger anytime soon. A single event such as fire, disease, parasites, insects or hurricane could push them over the edge for good. There are many factors and human disturbances that have been involved in degrading the habitat over the decades, and I don't know if anyone even knows if the tiny remaining habitat can support a large enough population for the species to be viable long-term. The small remnant habitat is unfortunately a very desirable peice of wilderness (and pasture) that is heavily contested by different groups with different visions of the proper management, purpose and use of the mountain. It is plagued by feral livestock (which some term game/"wildlife"), cats, rats, drought cycles, invasive plants, invasive insects, fire, bulldozing, recreational vehicles, vandalism, and of course overall neglect. Every few years there's another threat to worry about. Away from the more heavily travelled roads much of the habitat is in terrible condition from concentrated browsing and soil disturbance.Brooks Rowndhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15446341807546945889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578555892697401095.post-19647028796559814732011-03-09T11:45:10.156-08:002011-03-09T11:45:10.156-08:00I'm jealous. I spent a couple of hours lookin...I'm jealous. I spent a couple of hours looking for them a few years back, but came up empty. They're declining precipitously and the State of Hawaii is doing precious little about it. It's a sad and frustrating situation.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05983038626350968191noreply@blogger.com