Native bird named ‘Christmas’ highlights recovery of Hawaiian honeycreepers - Hawaii News Now

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HILO (HawaiiNewsNow) - State wildlife experts are showing off an endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper they nicknamed “Christmas.”

The honeycreeper is part of an endangered species called akiapolaʻau that is native to Hawaii Island.

Researchers named the bird Christmas because of the red and green leg band used to identify him whenever he’s caught in mist nets.

Christmas is believed to be the oldest-living akiapolaʻau, aged at 9-years-old.

Extinction is a near threat for this particular species and all Hawaiian honeycreepers with the threat of avian malaria.

Fortunately, the akiapolaʻau population is seeing an increase in numbers due to forest restoration and reducing the population of predators.

A fruit-eating native bird species is also helping with this cause.

“They’re actually helping us to regenerate the native forest even quicker than if we were doing it ourselves,” Mossman said.

Plus, thousands of Koa trees were planted at Puu Makaala and other neighboring islands.

Researchers said one of Christmas’ offspring has moved from the north side to the south side of the Natural Area Reserve.

Copyright 2022 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

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