Hawaiian Birds in Peril
Nice writing by avian ecologist, David Flaspohler, on Hawaiian birds on the brink of extinction.
I wonder at the cruel calculus of all of these forces, set in motion by the ambitions of men centuries ago and poised to erase a wonder of evolution that will never come again. Yet seeds of hope have been found within the genetic blueprint of some Hawaiian birds. The apapane and Hawaii amakihi have shown some genetic resistance to malaria. If hope is indeed the thing with feathers that perches in the soul, as Emily Dickinson wrote, then these birds may be its perfect embodiment.
Read the full story here.
