>It would seem to me that the only way such an abundant species could
>have been eliminated was through avian disease, such as avian malaria,
>etc. This disease may have been introduced from introduction of foreign
>birds, such as domestic pigeons, or by importation of alternate hosts,
>such as rats, cats, dogs, and their accompanying vector vermin, such as
>lice, fleas, etc. In Hawaii, most of the remaining indigenous birds are
>apparently at relatively high altitudes where the avian malaria isn't present.
>
>Tom Weir

One question. Is avian malaria a disease that occurs widely in the
temperate zone? I thought it was the lower temperatures of the Hawaiian
highlands that precluded occurrence of the mosquitos that transmitted it.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416