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Agency seeks public comment on Hawaiian hawk

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COURTESY U.S. FISH AND WILD SERVICE / 2008
The Hawaiian Hawk.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is asking for the public’s input on a proposal to remove the Hawaiian hawk or io from the endangered species list.

The agency said Wednesday comments previously submitted on the proposal don’t need to be sent again.

The hawk was originally listed as endangered in 1967. At the time, the hawk population was believed to number in the low hundreds.

Due to various conservation efforts, there are now an estimated 3,000 of the birds in existence and the population has been stable for at least two decades.

The species is found throughout the Big Island. The hawk lives in native forest, pasture land, and other habitats.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act would protect the bird even if it’s taken off the endangered species list.

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