The Hawaiian hawk, on the endangered species list since 1967, may soon be losing federal protection.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service today proposed to remove the bird from the list, saying its population is secure and no longer requires federal protection. Researchers estimate the total population of the Hawaiian hawk to be about 3,000 birds. It was initially put on the list when its population was thought to be in the low hundreds. The service is also seeking public input on the proposal. Hawaiian hawks are found primarily on the Big Island, where their population has been stable for two decades, Fish & Wildlife officials said. The proposed rule, if made final, would remove the Hawaiian hawk from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and remove all protections provided under the Endangered Species Act. The hawk will remain protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, a federal law that prohibits "taking" — killing, selling or otherwise harming migratory birds, their nests or eggs. In traditional Hawaiian culture, the hawk, or 'io, is believed to be an "'aumakua" — a family or personal god in the shape of an animal. Mortals did not harm or eat 'aumakua, and in return, the 'aumakua would warn and reprimand mortals in their dreams, visions and calls. Also, 'io are considered a symbol of Hawaiian royalty because of their lofty flight. The Hawaiian hawk is a small, broad-winged species of hawk endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and is the only member of the hawk family that nests and resides in the islands. The 'io was listed as endangered based on its restricted range on the island of Hawai'i, its small population size, and the loss of native forest habitat from agriculture, logging, and commercial development. Hawaiian hawks mate for life and defend their territories year-round. Eggs are laid from March to June and the eggs hatch from May to July. The young birds fledge from July to September. A typical clutch consists of one egg. Currently, the hawk is known to breed only on the island of Hawai'i, but there have been at least eight observations of the species on the islands of Kaua'i, O'ahu and Maui since 1978, and fossils are known from the islands of Moloka'i and Kaua'i. The current range of the hawk is estimated to encompass 2,372 square miles, comprising 58.7 percent of the island of Hawai'i. The service will consider comments and materials from all interested parties received by Oct. 6. Comments and materials concerning this proposed delisting should be logged in to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Comments and materials may also be mailed or hand-delivered to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: RIN 1018-AU96; Division of Policy and Directives Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203. A copy of the proposed rule may be downloaded from the service's Web site at www.fws.gov/pacificislands/. Copies are also available by calling the Fish and Wildlife Service office in Honolulu at 792-9400.