Native species under threat from invasive Japanese bird

8 populations in the Hakalau wildlife refuge are declining as the pesky mejiro surges

By Jim Borg

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, May 25, 2012

~~<p>An invasive Japanese bird has wiped out tens of thousands of native birds at the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge on Hawaii island, two University of Hawaii researchers have found.</p>
<p>The mejiro, or Japanese white-eye, Zosterops japonicus, has surged in population in recent years to the detriment of eight native species: the akepa, akiapolaau, amakihi, iiwi, apapane, elepaio, omao and Hawaii creeper.</p>
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An invasive Japanese bird has wiped out tens of thousands of native birds at the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge on Hawaii island, two University of Hawaii researchers have found.

The mejiro, or Japanese white-eye, Zosterops japonicus, has surged in population in recent years to the detriment of eight native species: the akepa, akiapolaau, amakihi, iiwi, apapane, elepaio, omao and Hawaii creeper. Login for more...