Posted on: Friday, August 10, 2001
Humans not in way of O'ahu bird's area
By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Science Writer
Designating certain areas as critical habitat for the endangered O'ahu 'elepaio should have minimal economic impacts, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
In its draft economic analysis, the service concludes the forest areas deemed important to the survival and recovery of the native bird, a species of flycatcher, should not create economic problems, largely because most are outside developed areas and many already are protected.
The agency will hold a public informational meeting on the study at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 at McCoy Pavilion in Ala Moana Park.
Most areas where the 'elepaio live are zoned conservation and generally unsuitable for development, said Fish and Wildlife Service researcher Eric Vander Werf.
Under the Endangered Species Act, when a critical habitat is established, any project involving the federal government or federal financing on the property must be handled in a way that minimizes impacts on the endangered species.
The draft economic analysis for the 'elepaio habitat found no proposed private projects that would be impacted, but said the military might have to consider impacts of live-fire and other kinds of training on the birds' habitat. Vander Werf said early visitors to the Islands reported the active, curious birds were common.
"Their prehistoric range probably extended from sea level to the tops of the mountains," he said.
In Hawaiian legends, the 'elepaio is the goddess of canoe-makers. The bug-eating birds are believed to have been used to identify trees that were rotten and filled with insects. If a canoe-builder found 'elepaio pecking at a tree, that tree was deemed unsuitable for use as a canoe log.
The service is accepting public comment through Sept. 5 on the proposed findings. For information, call the service at 541-3441 or visit the Web site, pacificislands.fws.gov/wesa/endspindex.html.
Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 245-3074.
