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From: smith@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Gordon Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: RE: indoor goes outdoors
Keywords: Introduced spp.
Message-ID: <12869@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu>
Date: 5 May 91 23:56:31 GMT
Organization: University of Hawaii
Lines: 39



In article <12722@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu> mike@uhunix1.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu writes:
>
>	I have recently come by some fascinating information about
>populations of "released birds".  I had earlier speculated that
>Huricane Ewa had ripped open many of the outdoor
>aviaries popular in back yards on the Windward side of Oahu
>some years ago.  It appears now that we have inherited a legacy
>of parrots.
>
>having known established breeding populations include:
>
>-------
>
>The African Grey
>
>Cockatoos including Sulphur Crested, Umbrella, "Large White",and
>    etc...

Introductions of exotic (non-native) species has long been a major 
problem in the Hawaiian Islands, beginning with the anicient 
Polynesians who first settled here (bringing with them chickens
and pigs). The problem is that with the exotics come unfamiliar 
diseases and habitat degradation. Hawaii has more threatened or 
endangered native species than any other statee in the union, and
there is a long, long list of known extinctions.. It didn't begin
with Hurricane Ewa, but I'm sure that the storm added to the problem
both with additional accidental introductions and habitat 
destruction. 

It is difficult to find a native land bird on Oahu. ALL of the birds
that you find exept in the most remote, high elevation areas are 
introduced - accidentally or otherwise.. Many people born and raised
here have never even seen a native land bird. 

Gordon Smith

smith@uhccux.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu