The Hawaiian Duck is an Endangered Species

The Sichuan partridge, one of the most threatened species, needs native habitats preserving to decrease the rate of decline (Dowell et al, 1999). The Sichuan partridge suffers from hunting and deforestation of native habitat in China. This was theorised using a population viability analysis (PVA) model, VORTEX, to model scenarios of varying management strategies. Laojunshan has been turned into a nature reserve in an attempt of protection (Liao et al, 2008).

One early saturday morning my dad (Shawn), my cousin (trey), and I woke up at 2:30 a.m. to go duck hunting. When we get out there we are one of the first people there and 4:00 comes along and we sent out to our spot. When we come to a spot that boats can't go we have to walk for about 15 minutes. As we are putting out the last of are decoys we here so more people throwing out decoys and they are pretty close. Well, we start talking to them and they are pretty nice and they ask if they can hunt with us and we said yes. Then, daylight comes and a group of ducks come in and we shot but I was the only one that killed one that we could find and it´s a drake which is a male mallard. Then, my dad shoots and we could not find his ducks.

Wetlands are important to animals because they provide shelter and a good living environment for certain species. For example, species such as Rafinesque’s big-eared bat and bald eagles depend on the trees in these wetlands and their hardwood forests to survive and grow.

The scaup nests in habitats of the Boreal Forests that spread into Alaska and into parts of Manitoba. Being one of the latest fall migrants of all waterfowl, scaup tend to migrate after freeze-up and settle on rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Throughout fall and winter the scaup primarily consume aquatic species. Due to their late migration scaup can be seen moving in flocks through Central Flyway Region in mid-May (Austin et al 1998). Forming new pair of bonds annually during spring migration every year they are considered a serial-monogamous species. Scaup tend to nest later in May through June. Unlike other diving ducks female scaup build their nests on the ground near or over water, and into parts of upland areas. Depending on female age, predation, and water conditions these variables will correlate with nest success (Austin et al

Hawaii Turtle Tours takes you for a tour around the island of Oahu to see some pretty amazing things. However, most people don’t know about the trouble that the islands face. The islands are home to some amazing and unique plants and animals. Yet, today it is estimated that there approximately 90% of these species are invasive or foreign. Leaving only 10% of native and endemic species left on the island. This means that of this small percentage, these plans and animals are found nowhere else in the world. Plus, the majority of these species are endemic, which means that they are found only in Hawaii and nowhere else.

First, this mainly due to the fact that O’ahu tree snails have unique colorful shells, and as a result, many people are removing these snails and using them for scientific studies or cases (Kay and Hadfield, 1972). In other words, the snails are being taken away from their natural habitat and kept in laboratories for scientific studies. However, most humans are not aware that they are disturbing their environment and having a negative impact on the overall population of Achatinella mustelina. Moreover, many shell collectors and nature enthusiast in the late 1800s and early 1900s collected these Achatinella mustelina because of their colorful, flamboyant and patterned shells which in return negatively impacted the number of these specimen (Hadfield 1986, Hadfield et al. 1993). For this, shell collectors and nature fanatics have to be aware and appreciative of the impact and effect that wildlife animals have on the environment as well as the ecosystem as a whole. In other words, when human forces disturb a species habitat or environment, they are negatively impacting the ecosystem thus increasing the extinction rate of endangered

Invasive species, unlike Mauna Loa, only affect Hawaii negatively. A quote from Hawaii Invasive Species Council states that “If brown tree snakes were introduced to Hawaii, they could potentially cause the extinction of our native bird species, and could cost an estimated $2.14 billion a year in damages to electrical infrastructure and medical costs associated with snake bites” (Hawaii Invasive Species Council). This results in not only the people having been bit affected, but the people in that area are being affected, too. Not to mention that an invasive species, called the Little Fire Ant,”infests beach parks, homes, and habitats of native species, resulting in in painful stings, lost crops, and injured pets” (Hawaii Invasive Species Council).

My research project is about the KakaWahie. The KakaWahie is a bird that is native to a Hawaiian Island named Moloka'i. The male Kakawahie are scarlet plumage and the female are dull rusty brown. The name KakaWahie means woodchopping to n Hawaiian. They would eat beetle larva and the KakaWahie eat upside down. They help in the environment by keeping the bug population down.

Could the Endangered Species Act itself become endangered with the current debates? Recently, many conservation advocates and government officials think so, pointing to the proposed policy change that could make it harder for wildlife to receive protection under the Act. So, what does the future hold for the Endangered Species Act? With more than 40 years since the passage of the ESA in 1973, politicians and environmentalists alike have analyzed the realities of the Act, creating an interesting current state of debate regarding conservation. With poor administration and provisions designed to promote good science and good sense flouted, the Act needs to change and improve to find the best middle available between the suppression of economic activity and the preservation of species within the United States. The Act now more than ever is in need of political cooperation that can both revive and reform it to best protect against future challenges and obstacles otherwise the act will eventually be rendered useless due to it ineffectiveness, falsified science, and lack of consistency.

Over 20 species of ducks have been recorded on SVWMA. The most common species include northern pintail, mallards, gadwall, canvasbacks, and ruddy ducks. Ducks nesting on the area include northern pintail, gadwall, northern shovelers, cinnamon teal, ruddy ducks, and others. Canada geese are commonly found on SVWMA; white-fronted and snow geese are infrequent visitors. Tundra swans visit SVWMA, but are relatively uncommon.

Duck hunting is a dying sport that many people will never get to experience for the ones who have experienced it know that it becomes an addiction and that it is so much more than just pulling the trigger. Even though shooting the ducks make up for a good majority of the fun, there are many behind the scenes acts that go on to make the whole Green Wing Duck Club experience one of a kind. The Club’s rich history, five star club house, scenic location, and conservation efforts all contribute to the full waterfowl experience that fewer and fewer people are able to experience every year.

Some feather work pieces required thousands of feathers from rare birds, thus some pieces could take years to collect feathers and make the actual lei. The most common colors used were yellow, red, green, and black. Red was the most prized color, but yellow eventually became the most prized color due to the lack of yellow feathers on the islands. Today, most of the valued birds are extinct or endangered. Kia Manu were the skilled bird catchers. The Kia Manu understood the behaviors of all of the birds, as well as the environments of said birds. They had many techniques to lure the birds in and ultimately capture them without harming the birds. They were skilled in providing the birds with the least amount of disturbance and only collecting feathers, afterwards releasing the birds. The practices for obtaining feathers were different for the different types of birds. The two main categories of birds were upland birds and seabirds. For upland birds, the collected feathers would be tied into feather bundles, called 'uo, and stored in containers. Common upland birds were the Hawaiian Honeycreeper, and the Honeyeater. Seabirds were considered a food source, so after collecting the feathers, they would be eaten. Common seabirds were Terns, Tropicbirds, Albatrosses, and Shearwaters. Foreign diseases carried among birds, predation, and loss of habitat caused a decline in

In the Gulf of Mexico region, some of the species of birds that live in wetlands include white egrets, ibises, anhingas, blue herons, and roseate spoonbills. In fact, wetlands are some of the most productive ecosystems in world. Wetlands provide a habitat for more aquatic and terrestrial species on an area basis than any other habitat type, making them among the most ecologically important ecosystems on earth (Comer et al., 2005). In the Gulf, wetlands are also home to many endangered species such as the Louisiana black bear, wood stork, snail kite, and Bachman’s warbler. In fact, more than one-third of the United States' threatened and endangered species live only in

Then there came a wave of disease – avian pox killed off many and then mosquitoes came (from ships, cargo, etc.) and brought in avian malaria, which seems to not affect introduced birds like the myna, which serve as carriers of it. As the mosquitoes expand in population and move up the elevations, destruction of all the native birds has happened. Moloka’i and Lana’i are basically native bird free now, and this problem has not taken decades, it has basically been only in the last few years. Population drops of 25 percent a year in some species has happened. The mosquitoes have reached 5,000 feet in Kaua’i, and they have only a few feet left on the tallest peaks to be free of the killers. Unable or unwilling to use genetically modified mosquitoes to drop the numbers of bugs, the end on that island is basically assured.

Despite the increased population in Japan, the continental Asian population continues to decline. There are various causes leading to the decline of their populations. The major threat is the loss and degradation of wetlands in its breeding and wintering grounds. These areas are used for conversion to agriculture, aquaculture, and industrial development. Due to habitat loss, the winter range in China is now only 8% of what it was in the 1980s. This decline of habitat also is leading to the over-concentration of cranes at a few sites. In China, wetlands are becoming drier as a result of surrounding development. In Russia and China, spring fires destroy suitable nesting grounds, allowing predators access to nests and destroying breeding