User:Turtlemania300/ʻŌmaʻo

ʻŌmaʻo
The ōmao (Myadestes obscurus, also called the Hawaiian thrush) is an endemic species of robin-like bird found only on the island of Hawaii. Ōmao are closely related to the other endemic thrushes of the Hawaiian Islands, the kāmao, the olomao, and the puaiohi. To the point that the original Hawaiian name of the Ōmao may be what the other birds Hawaiian names came from. These subspecies can be found throughout the Hawaiian Islands, however, the Ōmao can only be found on the Big Island. Ōmao are found primarily in rainforests in the eastern and southeastern regions of the Big Island. However, the Ōmao have been known to live in other portions of the island. The Population estimates approximate 170,000 birds, making it the most common of the Hawaiian thrushes. It appears to have a stable population, but because the entire population exists on a small range and is endemic to a single island, it is considered vulnerable.

Name
The original Hawaiian name for the ‘ōma’o is the Manu a Maui, otherwise known as the Amaui. The ‘ōma’o was first described to Western science in 1789 by Gmelin. It was called the Hawaiian Thrush and provided the scientific name Phaeornis obscura. It was later given the new scientific name of Myadestes obscurus in 1982. This was done due to a general reorganization which resulted in the change.

Description
Adult thrushes (males and females are similar in appearance) are mostly nondescript, with a grayish-brown head transitioning to a pale gray below. The back and primaries are a dull olive brown. They also have whitish vents and undertail coverts. The thrush has a short and black beak with brown legs. The Hawaiian Thrush has eyes that are dark in color. The Hawaiian Thrush grows to be 7 inches or 17.78 centimeters in size. The juveniles are also similarly dull in coloration, but have pale whitish-buff spotting on the wing coverts. The feathers of the juveniles tend to have black borders.

Behavior
The ‘ōma’o are considered an active and solitary species. ‘Ōma’os are mostly frugivores, but will take insects or other small invertebrates. The ‘ōma’o tend to favor favor Kukaenene, Ohelo, or Pukeawe berries. Another aspect of the bird's diet is the flowers of the Ieie vine. Before breaking out into song, the Hawaiian Thrush makes a set of different notes. The bird has a song that is a set of jerky liquid notes, whip-per-weeo-whip-per-weet. Their many calls include a cat-like rasp, a frog like croak and even a high pitched police whistle type sound. During breeding, the birds make a bulky nest in a tree or tree fern, laying one to three bluish eggs inside. The breeding season for the ‘ōma’o occurs in April and August. The birds take care of their young for about 56 days. The Hawaiian Thrush will make their nests in areas where berry bushes are nearby. The ‘ōma’o tends to take short flights in areas around its nest.

Habitat
The ‘ōma’o once lived on most of the land of Hawaii. Today it is restricted to the southern and eastern slopes of the island, mostly above 1,000 meters above sea level, 25 to 30 percent of its ancestral habitat. The ‘ōma’o used to be commonly found at 2,000 feet. Its preferred habitat is rainforest, but can be found in high shrublands on Mauna Loa. The Omao can also be found living on rock ledges in Mauna Loa’s lava flows. The trees in the rainforest they preferer to nest in include the ohia and koa. The Hawaiian thrush avoids areas with banana poka (an invasive vine). In lower elevations, it appears to be gaining a natural resistance to avian malaria.

Threats and Conversation
Threats to this species include habitat destruction from housing, tourism development and farming; introduced feral animal predation (mainly rats, cats and mongoose); invasive plant encroachment; and feral livestock such as goats and pigs. Mosquitoes have helped to introduce diseases to the ‘ōma’o and other bird species endemic to Hawaii. These illnesses include avian pox and malaria. There have been cases where food sources that the ‘ōma’o depend upon ended up being removed. Which ended up hurting the population of the bird. Farm animals introduced to the islands have helped to degrade the habitats of the ‘ōma’o. Which has led to population decreases and migration to other parts of the island.

The species has been aided by several conservation actions. These include the removal of pigs from several areas in the 1990s, such as Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, and the control of rats, cats, and ungulates. Other attempts have included fencing off crucial habitats, removal of invasive species, and the removal of feral livestock. The creation of wildlife reserves have greatly helped to protect the ‘ōma’o population. The Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge was specifically created for the preservation of Hawaiian forest birds such as the ‘ōma’o.