History

ʻAlalā are the sole surviving member of the corvid family in Hawaiʻi. Due to a variety of threats in the wild, these birds are critically endangered — efforts are ongoing to return these birds to native forests, beyond captive breeding facilities.

Timeline of the decline of the ʻAlalā population in the wild:
Captive released Juvenile Alala in the wild at McCandless Ranch

Before Western contact- Up to five species of corvid found on most main Hawaiian islands

1890s – Found throughout its historic range

1900s – Declines already observed

1950s – Only small areas of the historical range occupied by ʻalalā

1976 – Only 76 birds, 3,000 – 6,000 ft. el., 4 areas: Hualālai, Hōnaunau, Honomalino, Kaʻū Forest Reserve

1991/1992 – 1 at Hualālai, 12 at Hōnaunau/McCandless Ranch

1993-1998- Captive ʻalalā released

2002 – A single pair of ʻAlalā was last observed in 2002 in South Kona

2016-2019- 29 ʻAlalā released in Puʻu Makaʻala Natural Area Reserve on Hawaiʻi Island

2020 – Five surviving released birds are returned to conservation breeding program. Planning for future release ares on Maui Nui and Hawaiʻi Island begins.

2024 – Maui Nui release of five ʻalalā into the forest on the slopes of Haleakalā.

 

ʻAlalā play an important ecological role in Hawaiian forests. ʻAlalā are seed dispersers for many native plant species, eating the fruits and berries of these plants and distributing them throughout the forest. Without ʻalalā on the landscape, these native plants, important components of healthy native forests, struggle to regenerate.

Due to a sharp drop in their population, a handful of ‘Alalā were brought into captivity in the 1970s. These birds helped form the beginning of the captive breeding program.
As of 2025, there are 110 birds in two breeding facilities managed by the Hawaii Endangered Bird Program (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance).