KIHOA MILLER BIRD 
Dec. 9-16, 1961 
(Kramer, coni 
Annotated List 
KIHOA 
From gross observation it appears that the Miller bird would survive on Lays an, 
but prior to recommendations for such a transfer we feel the various pros and cons 
should bo thoroughly discussed with Fish and YJildlifo Service experts* In view of tho 
low population of this species, and the apparent shift in vegetative trend towards a 
slightly drier environment (at least over the last 40 years), such things as threshold 
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levels should be considered before removing any number of these birds from Kihoa, and 
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at tha same time those same factors should possibly be projected for tho next decade 
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,©n Kihoa* To fully oxploro all these possibilities it would probably be advisable to 
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.undertake another t~ip to Nihoa for tho express purpose of studying the Miller bird* • 
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This could boat be done immediately, using the HIRAN transportation facilities which will 
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be available oixiy for a short period in tho .future* , 
t Tnis species is basically quite rare and definitely warrants further investigation 
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of its life history and in particular, its food habits and territorial spatial re- . 
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quiromonts. 
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.Careful thou^it should be given to the possibility of establishing 
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of those birds elsewhoro to eliminate the danger of extinction* 
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(Kramer & B) Apparently the population of the Kihoa miller birds is considerably 
larger than was estimated on the December trip. Miller birds were 
seen.quite commonly on the summit plateau around the HIRAK camp, in West Palm Valley, 
and in East Palm Valley by Dave Woodside. Males were seen commonly at the tops of 
the larger bushes.singing very loudly and continually. They appeared to be guarding 
nests or territories. One miller bird was found on a nest with one egg in it. In the 
course of photographing this bird considerable disturbance occurred which included 
plucking branches and twigs from in front of the nest within 3 to 4 inches of the bird, 
but the female would leave for only a period of a few seconds and would never venture 
further than 6 to 8 inches from the nest. She usually remained in a fork immediately 
under the nest and returned at the first opportunity. This "hold tight" attitude 
towards the nest would appear to offer maximum protection against predation from such 
birds as the Kihoa finch. This may be considered as one of positive factors in any 
consideration given towards the introduction of this species to Laysan. 
Marshall, 1962 One of our principal objectives on this island was to observed the 
Kihoa millerbird, apsecies now found on this single island. Approx 
imately (20 ?) ..were observed which leads us to beleive that the population is in a 
better status than indicated by the last visit of state personnel to the island. A nest 
