Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 9, Number 12, 1 December 1992 — Ke ao nani [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Ke ao nani

Naturally Hawaiian

Editor's noie: This month's "Naturally Hawaiian " eolumn is a report on ihe impact of Hunieane 'Iniki on Kaua'i wildlife and habitats. The regularly scheduled aniele by environmentalist/artist Patrick Ching, a Kaua'i resident ,will resume next monlh. Preliminary assessments of Hurricane 'Iniki 's effects on Kaua'i wildlife and habitats reveal that forested areas and stream courses received "widespread damage," according to Department of Land and Natural Resources wildlife program manager Ronald Walker. Walker conducted an aerial reconnaissance by helicopter Sept. 30 and Kaua'i wildlife biologist Tom Telfer fiew over the devastated island Sept. 17. They saw that appear relatively intact and the Alaka'i wilderness preserve sustained only moderate damage. "Mueh of the canopy of the native forest areas was stripped of leaves. flowers and ffuits upon whieh man / native birds depend," Walker sai> . "However, the storm was selectiv leaving many pockets of fairl healthy forest whieh provides a haven until the damaged areas recover. "Native forest birds such as the 'apapane and 'i'iwi whieh depend en nectar from flowers may be severely impacted in hard-hit areas. Fruit-eat-ing species such as the Kaua'i thrush (amao) and 'o'u may findtheir main

food supply diminished. "Forest birds whieh are less selective and specialized in their diets, including the 'amakihi and 'anianiau (small Kaua'i thrush) may have a greater ehanee of recovery," he said. Walker said he is concerned that, although 'Iniki did not strike during the native forest bird nesting season, the breeding season will start soon, and tree-dwelling species probably will have difficulty finding suitable nesting sites. Tom Telfer is particularly concerned about the status of four extremely endangered forest birds: the 'akialoa, nukupu'u, Kaua'i 'ō'ō and 'ō*ū. Prior to the hurricane these species already were on the verge of extinction, he said. "Many native birds may seek relatively unaffected lowland areas for food and become exposed to mosquitoes whieh carry avian diseases," Telfer said. "Lowland endangered waterbirds such as the Hawaiian stilt, coot, gallinule and nēnē may not have been severely impacted. I saw many in wetlands within days after the storm." Telfer is concerned also about the escape of exotic birds from their cages as a result of damage to residential areas. "These exotic birds may become established and become pests to crops as well as vectors of avian diseases. They may become competitive with native birds for food and

habitat," he said. Exotic birds associated with lowland areas appear to have adjusted well in the aftermath of 'Iniki, said Walker. "I saw many active cattle egrets, doves, mynahs, sparrows and cardinals in the impacted areas. Seabirds will probably survive the storm fairly well because they feed at sea," Walker said. The only exception may be the endangered Newell's shearwater whieh nests in burrows on the midlevel slope. The uluhe fern slopes favored by Newell's shearwaters were widely destroyed and will be subject to encroachment of weed plants and

erosion during winter rains. Complete evaluation of 'Iniki's impacts on waterbirds, forest birds, seabirds and general wildlife populations will have to await more detailed ground assessments of their habitats. "Our current assessment efforts are now focused on watershed damage, flooding potential and forest fire risk. All have increased as a result of Hunieane 'lniki," said Miehael Buck, administrator of DLNR's Division of Forestry and Wildlife. "We need to identify any immediate actions we ean take to mitigate health and safety risks for people and property," he said.

Kaua'i wildlife and forest habitats received widespread damage. Particutar harm was done to the forest canopy.