Hawaii bird conservation talk at Lyman Museum
Alala chicks at home in an HEBCP conservation center on Maui. Photo courtesy of the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research.
HILO, Hawai`i (February 28, 2013) —At the Lyman Museum on Monday, March 11 at 7 p.m., Rosanna Leighton, Research Coordinator for Keauhou Bird Conservation Center (KBCC) in Volcano, talks about Hawaii’s unique avian species, the threats facing them, and their ongoing conservation.
Leighton and a team of Hawai`i Endangered Bird Conservation Program (HEBCP) staff work 365 days each year cleaning and planting aviary environments, managing breeding activities, and providing dietary support and veterinary care for endangered birds. The HEBCP is a partnership of the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and the State of Hawai`i Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), in collaboration with other government agencies, Kamehameha Schools, and private landowners. Its mission is to aid the recovery and prevent the extinction of Hawaii’s most threatened native birds, such as the alala (Hawaiian Crow) and puaiohi (Small Kaua`i Thrush).
The Smithsonian-affiliated Lyman Museum at 276 Haili Street in Hilo showcases the natural and cultural history of Hawaii. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for evening public programs. Cost is $3; free to Lyman Museum members. Additional parking is available at Hilo Union School. For more information, visit www.lymanmuseum.org.
