Bird flu bad news for culturally important native species in Hawaiʻi

Hawaiʻi’s native seabirds, including endangered species found nowhere else on the planet, are faced with the arrival of HPAI avian influenza in the state.

A bird sanctuary in Wahiawā on Oʻahu that held large numbers of waterfowl, mostly introduced species, has been identified as the epicenter of the outbreak. The first confirmed incidence of the flu in Hawai‘i was on Nov. 15, and there recently has been a second confirmed incidence of the virus.

That flock of 70 birds has now been euthanized by officials, but the risk remains very high that the virus has already been passed on. The disease could impact some of our native Hawaiian waterbirds that are found nowhere else in the world.

The native birds the flu could affect include the ʻalae ʻula (Hawaiian common gallinule), a charismatic black bird that is easily recognized by its distinctive red ʻfrontal shield’ and can be seen around wetlands including golf courses, sanctuaries and refuges.

This culturally important species has been lost from all the Hawaiian Islands except Kauaʻi and Oʻahu and a recent population estimate by the U.S. Geological Survey suggested that numbers have been falling over the past five years, with the population now at just 712 birds.

The disease has a high mortality rate in birds.

Now that the flu is in Hawaiʻi, it is difficult to stop, but anyone seeing sick or dead birds can help by alerting the Department of Agriculture at 808-483-7100 or 808-837-8092 so it can retrieve the birds and carcasses to avoid infecting other birds.

This also reduces the risk of a botulism outbreak, which is connected with carcasses remaining in wetlands, and is also a killer.

Even though the risk of human transmission is low, rescuers should take extra precautions when handling birds.

Native birds that are sick can be rehabilitated at Save Our Shearwaters (https://saveourshearwaters.org/) on Kauaʻi or Hawaiʻi Wildlife Center (https://www.hawaiiwildlifecenter.org/), which works statewide. Both organizations also accept donations to support this vital work.

There are three simple actions island residents can take right now to help Hawaiʻi’s native seabirds in the long term:

• Keep pet cats indoors. Cats are serious predators of seabirds.
• Slow down near wetlands, as many birds are killed on the roads.
• Support the local organizations that are maintaining the state’s wetlands for people, community, climate resilience and native Hawaiian plants and wildlife.

Individuals who decide to transport injured seabirds for follow-up care should wear appropriate personal protective equipment such as gloves, facemasks, eye protection, protective gowns and footwear. They should also practice proper hygiene and sanitize hands, clothes, towels and other items after handling any animal.

Other guidelines for transporting downed seabirds remain in place and potential rescuers should use extreme caution when considering whether or not to approach a seabird. These ground-nesting birds sometimes sit in front of their burrows to exercise their wings. If a bird is near a burrow and does not appear injured, it is likely not in distress and should not be approached.

For more information about continuing to help fallout seabirds, click here.