BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY OF JUVENILE PALILA (Loxioides bailleui): FORAGING DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL DYNAMICS, AND HELPING BEHAVIOR
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY OF JUVENILE PALILA (Loxioides bailleui): FORAGING DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL DYNAMICS, AND HELPING BEHAVIOR
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Date
1998
Authors
Miller, Linda Joyce
Advisor
Gill, Douglas E.
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to systematically document helping
development of foraging in juvenile Palila, an endangered Hawaiian
honeycreeper found only on Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii. Though
incidental observations of helpers-at-the-nest have been made,
intensive nest monitoring revealed that 30 to 50% of nests had one
extra after-second-year male provisioning food to the nestling(s).
Helping at the fledgling stage was also confirmed. Radiotracking
revealed information regarding foraging development and movement
patterns of juveniles. Adult males provided one-on-one food
supplementation and foraging instruction to young for three to four
months after fledging. Particular benchmarks in the development of
foraging skills in juveniles were identified. Juvenile survival may
be a factor limiting the Palila population. This investigation
constitutes the first detailed study of a juvenile Hawaiian forest
bird, and thus, may serve as model for understanding the ecology of
other species.