Steve
Wednesday 7th January 2004, 11:57
http://www.birdlife.info/wbdbweb/images/speciespicture//6349.gif
Oloma'o (Myadestes lanaiensis)
Justification This species is classified as Critical, but could already be extinct. If it survives, the remaining population is presumed to be tiny.
POPULATION 5
Identification 18 cm. Small, drab thrush. Brown above, pale grey below, darkest on throat. Pale buff undertail-coverts. Similar spp. Introduced Melodious Laughingthrush Garrulax canorus brighter cinnamon-brown with yellow bill. Introduced Japanese Bush-warbler Cettia diphone much smaller and slimmer with noticeable pale eyebrow. Voice Song a halting, thrush-like melody. Call a cat-like rasp.
Range & Population Myadestes lanaiensis is endemic to the central Hawaiian Islands (USA), where it is (or was) known from Maui, Lana`i and Moloka`i. It had been extirpated from Maui before ornithologists arrived, but possibly survived until the mid-19th century and was last seen on Lana`i in 1933. It may survive on Moloka`i, probably above 1,200 m between Kamakou Peak and Pepe`opae bog, and/or in the southernmost area of the Oloku`i plateau. It was last seen in the late 1980s, although these records are considered unconfirmed by some authors.
http://www.birdlife.info/wbdbweb/images/speciesmap/2000-6349.gif
Ecology It is a shy and retiring bird of the montane forest canopy, although in the late 1800s it was reported as ubiquitous in forests from the lowlands to the higher elevations on Moloka`i and Lana`. Like its congeners, it is primarily frugivorous.
Threats This species's drastic decline is probably attributable to the introduction of disease-carrying mosquitoes and habitat destruction. Mosquitoes were, until recently, restricted to the lowlands, but have followed the penetration of feral pigs into remote native rainforests over the last 25 years, and Moloka`i's uplands are probably too small to provide disease-free refugia. Pigs also modify native forests as they carry alien weeds to new areas and their rooting destroys the shrub layer and introduced axis deer Axis axis are an additional problem.
Oloma'o (Myadestes lanaiensis)
Justification This species is classified as Critical, but could already be extinct. If it survives, the remaining population is presumed to be tiny.
POPULATION 5
Identification 18 cm. Small, drab thrush. Brown above, pale grey below, darkest on throat. Pale buff undertail-coverts. Similar spp. Introduced Melodious Laughingthrush Garrulax canorus brighter cinnamon-brown with yellow bill. Introduced Japanese Bush-warbler Cettia diphone much smaller and slimmer with noticeable pale eyebrow. Voice Song a halting, thrush-like melody. Call a cat-like rasp.
Range & Population Myadestes lanaiensis is endemic to the central Hawaiian Islands (USA), where it is (or was) known from Maui, Lana`i and Moloka`i. It had been extirpated from Maui before ornithologists arrived, but possibly survived until the mid-19th century and was last seen on Lana`i in 1933. It may survive on Moloka`i, probably above 1,200 m between Kamakou Peak and Pepe`opae bog, and/or in the southernmost area of the Oloku`i plateau. It was last seen in the late 1980s, although these records are considered unconfirmed by some authors.
http://www.birdlife.info/wbdbweb/images/speciesmap/2000-6349.gif
Ecology It is a shy and retiring bird of the montane forest canopy, although in the late 1800s it was reported as ubiquitous in forests from the lowlands to the higher elevations on Moloka`i and Lana`. Like its congeners, it is primarily frugivorous.
Threats This species's drastic decline is probably attributable to the introduction of disease-carrying mosquitoes and habitat destruction. Mosquitoes were, until recently, restricted to the lowlands, but have followed the penetration of feral pigs into remote native rainforests over the last 25 years, and Moloka`i's uplands are probably too small to provide disease-free refugia. Pigs also modify native forests as they carry alien weeds to new areas and their rooting destroys the shrub layer and introduced axis deer Axis axis are an additional problem.