The ‘I’iwi, also known as the Hawaiian honeycreeper is native to the Hawaiian islands. Once common among the islands, their populations have been declining throughout the islands because of foreign diseases, predators, agricultural and urban development, as well as climate change (‘I’iwi). With the decreasing populations of these birds, the local ecosystems will be greatly affected. We must take action to protect these birds as well as other native species because they all have their important roles in the islands.
There are only three species of Hawaiian honeycreepers that being in the same subspecies are found on more than one of the islands (Fancy). These species are the ‘I’iwi, ‘Apapane, and the ‘O’u (Fancy). The main source of food for the I’iwi are the flowers from the ‘Ohi’a tree also known as Metrosideros polymorphaas well as the nectar from the flowers of the lobelia and cyanea plants.(Native Birds of Hawaii). But as native plants such as the lobehoid and cyanea have gone extinct, their diet has adapted to feeding from the ‘ohi’a tree, insects, and also spiders (Native Birds of Hawaii).
The ‘I’iwi are a type of small birds who have bright reddish-orange colored feathers and have a distinctly long, curved, salmon-colored bill and orange legs (Native Birds of Hawaii). Besides those distinguishable characteristics, the color of their wings are black with a white patch (Native Birds of Hawaii). The juvenile birds are easily recognizable with their yellow and green colored speckles on their body as well as their lighter colored bill (Native Birds of Hawaii). What makes the diversification of the ‘I’iwi so interesting is how well it has adapted to life on the Hawaiian islands.
Everything from the color of its feathers to the shape of its beak are all adaptions to help it survive and thrive in its environment. For example, the curve of the ‘I’iwi’s beak helps it effectively extract the nectar from the flowers of lobehoid plants which are also similarly curved as well (Fancy). This also aids it in extracting nectar from other native plants also. Another fact is that due to the extinction of the lobehoid and cyanea plants, it has adapted to feeding off of the ‘ohi’a plant and bugs to add to its options for food.
The ‘I’iwi can be found on the islands of Kaua’i, Maui, Hawaii, Oahu, and Moloka’i living in the native forests that are at elevations of 2,000 feet from sea level(Native Birds of Hawaii). They are very rare on the islands of Oahu and Moloka’i, and sadly they have gone extinct on the island of Lana’i (Native Birds of Hawaii). The reason for them being found in forests at higher elevations is because of the destruction of the native forests as well as to avoid disease carrying mosquitoes that are found in lower elevations (Fancy). Another reason is because of their food sources such as the plants they feed from happen to also be at higher elevations that vary from island to island (Fancy).
What makes the ‘I’iwi important in their forest ecosystems throughout the islands is that they help spread the seeds of various plants along the forests as well as helping pollinate the flowers that they get nectar from (The Importance of Birds). This is especially important for some native plants as the beak of the ‘I’iwi are specifically adapted for extracting nectar from them. With the threat of extinction due to outside causes, the loss of the ‘I’iwi would definitely affect the ecosystems of the Hawaiian islands especially in the native forests in which they reside. That is why we must take action in preserving such an iconic and important bird in the islands.
There are many causes for the decrease in population for the ‘I’iwi. This includes: climate change, invasive predators, agricultural and urban development, and foreign diseases. Though we may not be able to stop climate change right this instant, we can definitely make a change in the other causes. For example we could try to control or even take steps to completely eradicate invasive species that threaten the I’iwi. We could also make the land that the ‘I’iwi are found in into sanctuaries or places that can’t be turned into agricultural or urban development zones. Besides those we could also try to repopulate the species by breeding them in safe conditions then reintroducing them back into the environment. There are many ways we can help save this rare species of birds and make them as common as they used to be.
The ‘I’iwi is a native bird of the Hawaiian islands that was once commonly found throughout the islands. Now, due to the decrease in population, has gone extinct on the island of Lanai and is rare on the islands of Oahu and Moloka’i (Native Birds of Hawaii). These birds are not only one of the prettiest birds in Hawaii but are also a bird who has adapted to the islands and is important in the upkeep of the native forests. These birds play a key role in the ecosystems of the islands and must be preserved for future generations.
