Hawaiian Birdlife

Hawaiian Birdlife has been the definitive work on Hawaiian birds since the publication of the first edition in 1972. Since that time, a new endemic genus has been discovered on Maui and many new exotic species have become established. Much more effort also has been expended on the study of Hawaiian birds and their habitats, especially since the passage of the Rare and Endangered Species Law in 1973. The author traces the known history of the native birds (since Captain Cook's arrival in 1778) and chronicles the extinction of many species. Each living species is discussed in detail, including it ecology and feeding and breeding behavior. A chapter on exotic species includes the history of their introductions in the Islands and their present distribution, and makes note of the diseases they carried...This book encompasses all aspects of birdlife in Hawaii, with emphasis on habits, biological relationships with the environment, and the place of birds in the Hawaiian ecosystems, as well as their prospects for survival.