Site tenacity of the endangered palila
Strong site tenacity might prevent Palila (Loxioides bailleui), an endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper, from repopulating favorable habitats in their former range. We used radio telemetry during the nonbreeding and breeding seasons to study movements and dispersal rates of 57 Palila. All Palila remained in the study area, and home range sizes and movement distances were small relative to the potential mobility of the species. Banding and nesting studies revealed that Palila show strong site tenacity. An inverse correlation between movements and elevation was related to an elevational gradient in food supply. Translocations of Palila into presently unoccupied areas in their range might speed the recovery of this endangered species.
The Wilson Bulletin↗