(BIVN) – The moment of realization that the ʻalalā was rapidly declining, and the eventual effort to save the Hawaiian crow from extinction, was detailed on Tuesday evening by the biologist who witnessed it firsthand.

Paul Banko, working under the U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Division, talked about several endangered native bird species at the meeting of the Hawaii County Game Management Advisory Commission in Hilo. Banko spoke at length about the ʻalalā.

Decades ago – by the side of his father, Winston – Banko studied the crow, learned of its dwindling population, and helped bring some of the last remaining birds into safe captivity. The ʻalalā has since gone extinct in the wild. Efforts are currently underway to return the crow to the Hawaiian forest.

We will have more from Banko’s testimony, including a lengthy discussion on the palila bird, another endangered bird presently found only on Mauna Kea.