Twenty‐five years of change in forest structure and nesting behavior of Hawaiʻi ʻelepaio

A 25-year study in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park reveals that changes in forest composition have complex and inconsistent effects on the nesting behavior of the native Hawaiʻi ʻelepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis). While the density of trees, particularly ʻaʻaliʻi (Dodonaea viscosa) and koa (Acacia koa), increased over time, the relative abundance of koa decreased while that of māmane (Sophora chrysophylla) rose. Nests in koa were placed higher in the tree crown during the later study period, whereas nest placement in ʻaʻaliʻi remained unchanged. The research, conducted in 1993–1994 and repeated from 2015 to 2017, highlights the nuanced impacts of forest restoration efforts on native bird behavior.

Jaenecke, K. A., Banko, P. C., Peck, R. W., Sarr, Z., & Shema, N. (2023). Twenty‐five years of change in forest structure and nesting behavior of Hawaiʻi ʻelepaio. Restoration Ecology, 32(3). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.14033