2018-01-29 Game Management Advisory Commission Minutes

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Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes – January 29, 2018 State to quantify a recovery of the Mauna Kea forest habitat, 2) establish a maximum sheep population limit at or about the current level in order to prevent future habitat degradation – we don’t want to go back to where we came from, 3) prepare an argument to show existing sheep populations present no threat to and can co-exist with palila, and 4) the big one – return to federal court to seek amendment to existing \[unclear\] which would permit a managed sheep population at or below the established habitat support level. And then, hopefully, develop a scientifically-based game management plan and then actively promote and manage an enhanced public hunting program which employs recreational and subsistence hunting as the primary means of controlling game animal populations. Any questions? TN: Teresa from Kona. Does the palila bird have other enemies besides the feral animals like the wild cat population, the mongoose or any other predators? RH: Yeah, I’m sure they do. I don’t know the extent. I looked at some data a few years ago on the effects of mongoose predation on birds, primarily ground nesting birds and there were two studies done in Hawaii – I don’t remember the years exactly – some time ago – one study concluded the mongoose diet consisted maybe of 5% birds and the other one was like 8% birds. Mongoose primarily prefers insects: cockroaches are a specialty. So I don’t think birds are high on the mongoose diet – I’m sure their – they take any opportunity to eat whatever they can get but I don’t think that’s significant but I’m not an expert. You’d have to ask somebody that knows more about it. TN: What about the feral cats? RH: I really don’t know. I believe most likely feral cats are a bigger predator on birds than the mongoose. Probably that information would be available from Dr. Banko he spent a lot of time on palila and maybe he could give you some numbers of what he thinks – I know – I was up on the mountain a couple of times and I saw people with radio collars on cats so – he’s probably got some data – I don’t know. TN: The reason why I ask is I’ve watched wild cats in my home race up a tree to catch a bird so... For the feral cats to climb a tree it’s no problem for them so I was wondering if you have feral cats as one of the problems that has added as a \[unclear\] detriment to the palila birds. TL: I think there’s a lot of hazards to the palila actually. Not just animals, I mean, there’s disease, there’s wasps, there’s all sorts of things that are out there. RH: I had a conversation with Dr. Banko fairly recently and he was very interested in the observation that I made on game birds – I could tell you absolutely that game birds are eating fireweed. I’ve opened crops – last season particularly and they’re definitely consuming it – now whether that’s responsible for what’s 11