"Puaiohi nesting season is out of character with a much lower nesting success and nesting effort this year than the last two-three years. We've observed numerous cases of nest predation, mostly rats (our first). No Nukupuu or any of the other rare/extinct species on Kauai."--Tom Snetsinger <nukupuu@aloha.net>.
"Tom's recent comments about Puaiohi nesting success (or lack thereof) prompts me to make a few comments that I neglected earlier based on my Feb-Mar trip. It appears that this is an anomalous year for Hawaiian birds, undoubtedly the result of the worldwide El Nino weather situation. For the first time in years, my group missed Palila at Puu Laau, and this at a time when they should have been conspicuous and singing loudly. The habitat was very obviously water stressed, with the naio leaves shrivelled and dangling. There were plenty of mamane green pods, a good source of moisture for survival but probably not a sufficient food source for feeding young. In Waikamoi, we encountered the first rain in weeks (according to TNCH personnel), and while the habitat did not appear as stressed as the mamane/naio forest, birds in general were very quiet and ohia bloom was not what I expected for this season. As with Puu Laau, this should have been the best time of year for vocalization and setting up of territories, but we heard no Akohekohe or parrotbills, and only one singing alauahio.
My hypothesis is that Hawaiian birds faced with drought conditions simply postpone breeding until the situation improves. This would help explain why the breeding season is so protracted for many species, at least when averaged over many years. Maybe it is not so protracted in any given year. The question is whether birds will breed late this year or just skip a season. We should all be observant of any indications either way. It could be valuable information for future management decisions. One thing to watch for is whether native birds will have a spectacular rebound next year (assuming weather patterns return to normal)."--Doug Pratt <hpratt@unix1.sncc.lsu.edu>.