Summary

Description

Alaeula Hawiian moorhen are quite secretive and current survey methods are inadequate to accurately estimate population size. We trapped and banded adult and juvenile individuals. We placed GPS dataloggers on 10 adult birds at James Campbell NWR in order to track movements. We used these data to develop a monitoring protocol for the Hawaiian moorhen that will allow for more accurate refuge and statewide population estimates. While developing a better method to census individuals was the primary target of this investigation, we also learned valuable information about moorhen response to management actions that was not previously understood. These data will be used across refuges in Hawaii for wetland management actions. Alae keokeo Hawaiian coot are much more likely to travel than the alae ula Hawiian moorhen. Movement both within an island and between islands was not well understood. This affected the ability to accurately census the population. The goal of this component of the project was to better understand largescale movements of the coots. This occured as birds were banded on the James Campbell and Pearl Harbor Refuges and fitted with Satellite PTT trackers. A band resight program utilizing volunteers based on each of the islands was initiated during this study.