What’s Really Threatening Hawai‘i’s Birds?
Misguided Efforts to Save Native Birds Could Lead to Extinction
Dangerous biotech experiments are being conducted on the islands of Maui and Kaua‘i. The State of Hawai‘i and its multi-agency partnership Birds, Not Mosquitoes (BNM) are releasing millions of bacteria-infected mosquitoes on our natural forest landscapes in what has been presented as an effort to save native birds from avian malaria. Hawai‘i Unites has been researching BNM agency documents and investigating their actions, and we’ve found not only a lack of supporting data for their narrative, but a number of alarming issues surrounding the topic of bird intervention activities. It’s time to start asking some serious questions about what’s really threatening Hawai‘i’s native birds.
Irradiation of Birds
We recently shared the disturbing story of the irradiation of critically endangered native birds on Maui. Guest author Arthur Firstenberg described the events of a 2019 translocation effort involving the attachment of VHF radio transmitters to the legs of 10 kiwikiu honeycreepers, and the subsequent deaths of seven of those birds:
“The birds – some captive-raised and some wild – were released into the forest between October 27 and October 30, 2019. By November 16, every bird was dead except the three who had succeeded in removing or disabling their transmitter. The details are shocking.”
Those details include the tragic reactions of kiwikiu distressed by the attachment of VHF devices on their little bodies, with the birds responding in ways such as staying still on the floor, attacking the transmitters, becoming lethargic, and not eating. The agencies involved attributed the bird deaths to avian malaria, despite contradicting evidence. They did not consider the environmental stress of radiation from the transmitters, nor did they consider radiation from the telecommunication towers in the Nakula Natural Area Reserve where the birds were released.
Firstenberg posted this update to the story of one of the surviving birds:
“The bird in my last newsletter called WILD1 – the one who disabled his radio transmitter less than a day after his release into the forest – was seen, alive and very healthy, on July 23, 2021, 632 days after being released! This was reported in the Honolulu Star Advertiser and in The Maui News.”
We can only speculate as to why the agencies responsible for this failed translocation effort have not taken a closer look at the data showing that only the birds forced to wear the active radio transmitters died. We also have to wonder why the final environmental assessment for the lab-altered mosquito releases on Maui seems to be promoting increased radiation of wildlife in the project area through the installation of cell tower infrastructure from Pu‘u Nianiau to Ko‘olau, with a series of 30-foot poles “to provide cell service all the way to Hāna.”
Capture of Birds
Details about the capture of these birds are also highly concerning. An article in Honolulu Civil Beat describes the translocation project leader luring endangered kiwikiu “into a nearly invisible 30-foot net strung up between two fishing poles that are staked into the ground with PVC pipes.” Soon she has the satisfaction of having caught her first bird who “darts into the net he never saw.” Knowing what happened to these helpless kiwikiu, it’s difficult to look at the accompanying images of that bird stuck in the trap set for him by his captors. Fortunately, according to the 2019 Kiwikiu Conservation Translocation Report, that first bird captured was WILD1 – the survivor who disabled his transmitter and got away, continuing to thrive in his natural habitat. It’s worth noting that WILD1 had been chosen to receive “the largest transmitter size, allowing for maximum monitoring time after release.” Clearly, he did not consent to that plan.
The news article mentions a team member questioning how the design of the specially made wooden bird-carrying boxes that the captured birds are contained in could be refined:
“What’s the best way to keep the birds content in captivity? Maybe fewer holes on the side? Or a curved ceiling to reduce injuries when excited birds bonk their heads?”
By using the term “excited,” does he mean distressed? Head bonking sounds similar to another reaction these birds have when they’re placed in confinement. The translocation report explains:
“We translocated only one of the four birds (WILD7) that rubbed the feathers from the tops of their heads from jumping up onto the sides of the cage, a behavior we interpreted as a sign of stress.”
Thankfully, WILD7 figured out how to remove his radio transmitter not long after his release and was another one of the three birds to survive this science project gone wrong.
Taking of Eggs
It’s not just the birds these teams are after. An article in CNN last month describes agencies “racing to save” critically endangered ‘akikiki honeycreepers on Kaua‘i. As explained in the linked DLNR article, capturing the last five wild adult birds would be too stressful and “would likely lead to their demise.” Their solution is to wait until the mama birds are out of their nests, then swoop in and snatch their eggs:
“Recently the team has shifted from looking to capture the handful of remaining birds and bring them to safety, to focusing entirely on collecting unhatched eggs. Each nesting season, the team heads to Kauaʻi’s mountainous plateaus and, knowing where nests have previously been spotted, searches the top of ʻŌhiʻa trees using a camera mounted on a long pole. When they find an occupied nest, they rig up a ladder system, sometimes climbing as high as 48 feet (14 meters) to reach it.
This summer, the team successfully rescued 10 eggs that were placed in a portable incubator and brought safely back to the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center. There, collected eggs continue to grow and develop, and any successful hatchlings join the other 50 or so ’akikiki in human care.”
The term “rescued” doesn’t seem appropriate here. What kind of stress are these egg-collecting activities causing the ‘akikiki mothers who return to empty nests? Could one reason for the decline in wild birds be attributed to the taking of eggs that might otherwise have hatched and grown into healthy adults in their natural habitat? A 2022 Technical Report by the University of Hawai‘i and USGS gives some insight into why so few ‘akikiki remain in the wild on Kaua‘i:
“As a result of these earlier conservation planning efforts, egg harvesting from 2015–2018 has resulted in a captive flock of 41 individuals being established (as of February 2022).”
“However, breeding has been sporadic with difficulties at all stages (pair formation, incubation, chicks, and fledging), indicating hand rearing is only part of the solution.”
Egg harvesting means removing the eggs from their mothers’ nests in the wild and hatching them as captives in facilities. Hand rearing means that when those hatched eggs become adults and breed in captivity, those offspring are taken away from their parents and raised instead by their captors.
From Wild to Captive
In October, Hawai‘i Unites reported on the events of the Board of Land and Natural Resources meeting where bacteria-infected mosquito releases were once again railroaded through, this time for the island of Kaua‘i. At that meeting, the DLNR’s David Smith spoke on the population decline of ‘akikiki in the wild from between 60-100 just a few months prior, down to only five known birds left. We questioned the lack of data for the decline in numbers, and revealed some startling information:
“No explanation was given by Smith as to what may have actually happened to those other 55-95 ‘akikiki since earlier this year, but a February 2023 Kaua‘i Forest Bird Recovery Project job application offers some clues:
Can we get a count of the ‘akikiki birds caged and/or inadvertently killed by ‘specialists’ who have determined that capturing them and transferring them to managed human care facilities is the best way to prevent the imminent extinction of the species? Probably not.”
We also noted that because of these human interferences, we may never know whether ‘akikiki left alone in nature might develop a natural tolerance and resistance to avian malaria like ‘amakihi honeycreepers have.
Biotech Experiments: Lab-Altered Mosquitoes
While Birds, Not Mosquitoes promotes itself as a bird conservation effort, the reality is that the agencies involved haven’t even taken the time to study the serious risks of their mosquito experiments on the health of Hawai‘i’s birds and other wildlife, people, or ecosystems. The projects on Maui and Kaua‘i involve the continual release of billions of southern house mosquitoes that have been lab-infected with a bacteria called Wolbachia. Southern house mosquitoes transmit diseases to humans and to animals. Peer-reviewed studies have shown Wolbachia bacteria to cause increased pathogen infection in mosquitoes and to cause mosquitoes to become more capable of transmitting avian malaria and West Nile virus (bird and human). No studies have been done by these BNM agencies to assess potential increased disease-spreading capability caused by the specific strain(s) of Wolbachia the southern house mosquitoes will be infected with in the lab. Female mosquitoes that bite, breed, and spread disease will be accidentally released. Male mosquitoes released can transmit bacteria, pathogens, and viruses to females. Avian pox is also a concern. Pathogen screenings for the imported mosquitoes are unknown, and that information is being withheld from the public.
Another troubling fact that we discovered in the final environmental assessment for the mosquito release project on Kaua‘i is that these partnering agencies have no intention of taking responsibility for what happens to the birds as a result of the lab-altered mosquitoes:
As we reported previously in reference to the Maui plan, lab mosquitoes aren’t even the only threat these projects pose to native birds on the islands. Helicopters and drones used to release the mosquitoes may cause noise disturbances, disruptions to breeding and nesting, stress, communication interferences, collisions, and even wildland fires.
“How is any of this in alignment with protecting endangered wildlife and the ‘āina?”
The bigger picture goals with these corporate experiments in Hawai‘i involve release on the islands of lab-altered mosquitoes mass-produced in the DLNR’s insectary, and Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes are only the beginning of this biotech industry takeover of our natural environment. The state and its agency partners are looking to secure funding for gene drives, synthetic biology control tools, and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology (pgSIT: precision-guided Sterile Insect Technique).
Biotech Experiments: Genetically Modified Birds
Modifying mosquitoes using CRISPR is just one aspect of the plan. They’re also talking about genetically modifying native ‘i‘iwi honeycreepers to be resistant to malaria using a CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing process called ‘facilitated adaptation.’ These birds would be released into the wild, potentially resulting in a takeover of the natural ‘i‘iwi bird population.
Does this approach honor the sacred ancestral connections of the native honeycreepers? These agencies seem more focused on securing funding to use Hawai‘i as testing grounds than they are on the wellbeing and quality of life of these birds. We need to speak up as a community to protect the native birds, our environment, and the health of all of these islands before more irreversible damage is done.
You Can Help
Hawai‘i Unites will continue researching and documenting this dangerous agenda. We’ve taken the state to court to stop the mosquito releases on Maui. We’re also working with activists on Kaua‘i who have filed legal action to stop the releases there. By donating to our organization, you can help us challenge these biotech industry experiments and raise awareness about the state’s desecration of sacred Hawaiian lands.
Mahalo to everyone who contributed during our matching funds campaign. We raised over $5,600 towards our goal of $40,000 to move our legal case forward. Hawai‘i Unites is so grateful to our matching fund donor and all of our contributors who support the work that we’re doing.
Aloha,
Tina Lia
Founder
Hawai‘i Unites
HawaiiUnites.org
Hawai‘i Unites is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation and protection of our environment and natural resources. Your tax-deductible donations help us to fulfill our mission of honoring and protecting our sacred connection to the natural world.
