Akiapōlā‘au is among the rare and endangered birds the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge is meant to protect. U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono has introduced the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act of 2010. Jack Jeffrey photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service.

(Media release) — Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) last week introduced the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act of 2010, H.R. 5380, which authorizes the expansion of this Refuge on the island of Hawaii.

Once signed into law, the National Wildlife Refuge would encompass two adjacent parcels containing native forest habitat that supports some of the most endangered forest birds in the nation and the world.

In introducing the bill, Congresswoman Hirono expressed her determination to preserve Hawaii’s unique animals and plants. Read the rest of this entry »

The native i'iwi courtesy of The Kohala Center

(Media release) — Trek through Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge in search of endangered birds with wildlife biologist, birder and award-wining photographer Jack Jeffrey on a Kohala Center learning event from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010.

This is the first of four 2010 learning events by The Kohala Center, featuring “The Birds and the Bees and a Little Bit of Chocolate.”

Learn about the history of Hakalau Forest and current conservation efforts. See how reforestation efforts at the refuge are contributing to enhanced native habitat and recovery of native bird and plant populations. Hike for two miles in the 32,733-acre refuge through native montane rainforest, habitat for 12 endemic forest birds, of which five are endangered. This habitat also serves as home to 13 migratory and 20 introduced bird species, the endangered Hawaiian bat opeapea, and 29 rare and endangered plant species. Visit the 100-year-old koa cabin of Pua Akala, and enjoy Jack’s many stories. Read the rest of this entry »