Hawaiʻi is known as the bird extinction capital of the world, and another wave of extinctions is poised to crash on the islands. Two of Kauaʻi's native bird species are on the brink of being lost, with several others tragically not far behind. These birds face many threats, and one of the largest is invasive mosquitoes that transmit deadly diseases, such as avian malaria.
In the five-minute video, you'll meet some of the rare birds of Kauaʻi's rarely visited, high elevation native forests, and learn how a collaboration of state, federal, and non-governmental partners is working to address the mosquito issue on the island and across the state.
Following the video, our experts discuss the future of Kauaʻi's forest birds, their experiences from the field, the environmental and cultural importance of these birds, and more.
00:00:00 - Introduction by Jordan Rutter, Director of Public Relations, American Bird Conservancy
00:04:26 - The Forest Birds of Kauaʻi: Mosquito-Transmitted Diseases
00:09:51 - Q&A with:
- Dr. Lisa “Cali” Crampton, Project Leader, Kauaʻi Forest Bird Recovery Project
- Dr. Chris Farmer, Hawaiʻi Program Director, American Bird Conservancy
- Ian Nelson, filmmaker
