Nihoa Millerbird Translocation Project Updates

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in partnership with Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and American Bird Conservancy, began a historic scientific expedition - to create a second population of the endangered Nihoa Millerbird. To read the project updates, click here.

Critical Habitat Designation for 124 Oahu Species

April 11, 2012

As part of the critical habitat designation process, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is releasing a draft economic analysis of proposed critical habitat for 124 species on the island of Oahu for a 30-day public review period.  At this time, the Service is also reopening the comment period for the August 2, 2011, proposal to list 23 species and designate critical habitat for the 124 species. Comments must be received by May 14.

News Release - Draft Economic Analysis of Proposed Critical Habitat for 124 Oahu Species Released for Public Review

Draft Economic Analysis of Critical Habitat Designation for 124 Oahu Species

Nihoa Millerbird Recovery Team Honored for Achievements

April 10, 2012

Loyal Mehrhoff, Field Supervisor for the Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, presented several members of the Nihoa Millerbird Translocation Team with the 2011 Recovery Champions Award for their for their historic reintroduction of endangered Millerbirds to Hawai‘i’s Laysan Island after a 100-year absence, a major step forward to save the species from extinction."

The Nihoa Team members are:

• Fred Amidon, Holly Freifeld, Sheldon Plentovich and Rachel Rounds - biologists with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

• Walterbea Aldeguer - cultural monitor

• George Wallace and Chris Farmer - American Bird Conservancy biologists

• Robby Kohley, Cameron Rutt, and Daniel Tsukayama - contractors with ABC

• Peter Luscomb - aviculturist

• Eric VanderWerf and Lindsay Young - Pacific Rim Conservation biologists

• Dr. Thierry Work - USGS veterinarian

• Tom Edgerton, Lauren Greig, Michele Kuter, Tawn Speetjens and Matt Stelmach - Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument co-trustees and staff, responsible for the management of the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge

Cameron Rutt with Recovery Champions Award. Photo credit USFWS	Sheldon Plentovitch receiving award from Loyal Mehrhoff. Photo credit USFWS	Robby Kohley with Recovery Champions Award. Photo credit USFWS

Nihoa Millerbird Recovery Team Honored for Achievements

March 22, 2012

A team of biologists, avian experts and a veterinarian have been honored as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Champions for their historic reintroduction of endangered Millerbirds to Hawai‘i’s Laysan Island after a 100-year absence, a major step forward to save the species from extinction. To read more, click here.

$549,000 in Federal Grant Monies Awarded to Restore Honu‘apo Estuary (January 3, 2012) On January 3, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced $20.5 million in grants to support 24 projects in 12 states to conserve and restore coastal wetlands and their fish and wildlife habitat. The grants, awarded under the 2012 National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program, will be matched by nearly $21 million in partner contributions from state and local governments, private landowners and conservation groups. The grants will be used to acquire, restore or enhance coastal wetlands and adjacent uplands to provide long-term conservation benefits to fish, wildlife and their habitat.

Honu‘apo Park, located on the island of Hawai‘i - Photo credit Chris Swenson/USFWS

Honu‘apo Park, located on the island of Hawai‘i, will receive $549,000 for an 11.5 acre restoration project that will include removal of invasive vegetation that is impairing water quality and quantity, sculpting of deep water areas for improved wildlife habitat, reintroduction of native vegetation, and increased predator control. 

The Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, in partnership with the community-based conservation group Ka ‘Ohana O Honu‘apo, proposes to initiate the first phase of restoration in the State-owned 225.5-acre park. The complex encompasses 50 acres of estuarine, subtidal, intertidal, and palustrine wetlands and adjacent coastal areas. The Honu‘apo estuary wetland is part of a unique coastal ecosystem of semi-sheltered near-shore pools, brackish ponds, and open environs. Although the wetland system supports a diversity of endemic species and microhabitats, decades of neglect and misuse have contributed to impairment of wetland functions and decreased habitat for endangered migratory birds. This estuarine wetland is also frequented by the threatened green sea turtle and serves as a nursery area for marine fishes. 

The National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and funded under provisions of the 1990 Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act. Funding is provided by Sport Fish Restoration Act revenue – money generated from an excise tax on fishing equipment, motorboat and small engine fuels.

Including the 2012 grants, the Service has awarded nearly $300 million to coastal states and territories since the program began in 1992. When the 2012 projects are complete, about 293,000 acres of habitat will have been protected, restored or enhanced as a direct result of these grants.

Coastal areas comprise less than 10 percent of the nation’s land area yet support a significant number of wildlife species, including 75 percent of migratory birds, nearly 80 percent of fish and shellfish and about half of all threatened and endangered species.

A complete list of projects funded by the 2012 grant program can be found online at: http://www.fws.gov/coastal/CoastalGrants/index.html