All five Hawaiian crows released on Maui are still thriving

All five ʻalalā released on Maui in December 2024 are alive and healthy nearly two years later, The Maui News reported on October 21, 2026, citing the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. The Hawaiian crows are flying on their own in the forests of Haleakala, eating natural foods, holding territories, and building nests. They have also come through several storms, including Kona lows in March and Tropical Storm Lala.

Hanna Mounce, who manages the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project, called it a significant accomplishment and said there is still a lot to learn about what it will take for the birds to reproduce. One dominant pair has built nests in two seasons. The female has sat on the nest and the male has guarded her. They have not produced chicks. The five were raised with automated feeders and still use supplemental stations in the forest. They have also been seen taking native fruit, insects, spiders, and small vertebrates. The original plan to add two more birds to this flock was dropped because the five have become territorial as they matured. Partners are looking at other Maui sites, and at starting releases again on Hawaii Island. Five birds alive in the forest is the news. It is not a recovered population.