Wildlife Spotlight: ‘alae ‘ula
If you have spent any time around one of our island’s wetlands or streams, hopefully you have had an opportunity to view an ‘alae ‘ula, or Hawaiian gallinule. These beautiful shy little waterbirds have black feathers, a striking bright red frontal shield, a red and yellow beak, and bright yellow legs.
In moʻolelo, the ‘alae ‘ula is revered. Honored as a god, they held the secret to fire, thanks to their vibrant red frontal shield and beak. Today, they are important members of our wetland ecosystems but, sadly, are now critically endangered with perhaps as few as 712 remaining.
‘Alae ‘ula can be found in freshwater marshes, loʻi kalo, streams, irrigation ditches and reservoirs. They are very territorial and can be known to defend an area of wetland ranging from as much as a quarter to half an acre. Within these ecosystems, they forage on insects, seeds and mollusks.
‘Alae ‘ula were once found throughout the Hawaiian archipelago, but now occur only on the islands of Kaua‘i and O‘ahu, mainly due to loss of habitat; introduced predators such as cats, mongooses, bullfrogs and turtles; invasive plants and diseases, including avian botulism; and water contaminants. They cannot fly for about 25 days each year during their molting period, usually from June-September, which also increases their vulnerability to predation.
‘Alae ‘ula can nest year-round, but the majority of their nesting occurs from March to August and may depend upon suitable water levels and conditions. When nesting, the male will collect materials such as twigs, stems and leaves, and the female will arrange them at the nest site, frequently incorporating a ramp on one side of their platform-style nests, to allow chicks to easily clamber in and out.
After developing their nest, females will lay a clutch of around five eggs, which hatch after two to three weeks of incubation. ‘Alae ‘ula hatchlings are precocial, which means that they can walk and swim within just a few hours of hatching. However, they will depend on their parents for protection and food for several weeks.
Hanalei NWR serves as a critical habitat site for these endangered birds and is estimated to support as much as 50% of the remaining population of ‘alae ‘ula. Mahalo nui loa for supporting us as we work to help manage and maintain these important places for our native Hawaiian wildlife to nest, forage and thrive.
Photo: ‘Alae ‘ula at Hanalei NWR, Credit: Hob Osterlund.
