Four native honeycreeper species could face extinction in the next two years, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources said.
The biggest killer of native birds is the mosquito. The birds are forced to live in higher elevations to escape disease-carrying mosquitoes.
The ʻakohekohe have the largest population remaining with 1,657 birds living on Maui.
Kiwikiu is another native honeycreeper residing in Maui. There are fewer than 200 surviving.
The ʻakekeʻe have fewer than 700 birds remaining, and the Kauaʻi native ʻakikiki have 45 living in the wild, and 41 in captivity.
The DLNR is working to control the mosquito population by using bacteria that prevent reproduction. Birds will be brought into captive care until mosquito control is achieved.
