Pueo
Encyclopedia
The Pueo is a subspecies
of Short-eared owl
that is endemic to Hawaii
. The pueo is one of the various nā aumākua
(ancestor spirits) in Hawaiian culture.
Pueo inhabit forests and grasslands throughout the islands of Hawaii, although their numbers are declining rapidly, particularly in the last two decades, and especially on the island of Oahu
, upon which they were at one time very prevalent. Pueo are now listed as an endangered species
.
was first named by Andrew Bloxam
(as the species Strix sandwichensis). He saw it, although did not collect a specimen, while in the Hawaiian Islands
in 1825 as the naturalist on board HMS Blonde
. It is now considered to be a subspecies of the Short-eared Owl
, Asio flammeus, although Storrs Olson does not consider it to be distinct from Asio flammeus flammeus.
Pueo are strongly affected by light pollution
. They are often killed in vehicular accidents in which they dive toward the headlights of cars, possibly in an attempt to hunt. Many such collisions have been reported on Interstate H-3
and other newly-built roadways in areas which once held high populations of pueo.
Pueo appear to be somewhat resistant to the avian malaria
that has decimated many other endemic bird populations in Hawaii; however, they have recently become victim to a mysterious "Sick Owl Syndrome", or SOS, in which large numbers of pueo have been found walking dazedly on roads, leading to death by collision. The cause of Sick Owl Syndrome is unknown; it is suspected that pesticide
toxicity may be responsible, particularly through secondary rodenticide poisoning. However, it has also been hypothesized that the cause may be an infectious agent, seizure-like confusion due to light pollution
, or a variety of other causes.
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of Short-eared owl
Short-eared Owl
The Short-eared Owl is a species of typical owl . In Scotland this species of owl is often referred to as a cataface, grass owl or short-horned hootlet. Owls belonging to genus Asio are known as the eared owls, as they have tufts of feathers resembling mammalian ears. These "ear" tufts may or may...
that is endemic to Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. The pueo is one of the various nā aumākua
Aumakua
In Hawaiian mythology, an aumakua is a family god, often a deified ancestor. The Hawaiian plural of aumakua is nā aumākua , although in English the plural is usually aumakuas. Nā aumākua frequently manifested as animals such as sharks or owls. Nā aumākua were worshipped at localities where they...
(ancestor spirits) in Hawaiian culture.
Pueo inhabit forests and grasslands throughout the islands of Hawaii, although their numbers are declining rapidly, particularly in the last two decades, and especially on the island of Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
, upon which they were at one time very prevalent. Pueo are now listed as an endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
.
Taxonomy
This taxonTaxon
|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...
was first named by Andrew Bloxam
Andrew Bloxam
Andrew Bloxam was an English clergyman and naturalist; in his later life he had a particular interest in botany. He was the naturalist on board during its voyage around South America and the Pacific in 1824–26, where he collected mainly birds...
(as the species Strix sandwichensis). He saw it, although did not collect a specimen, while in the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
in 1825 as the naturalist on board HMS Blonde
HMS Blonde (1819)
HMS Blonde was a 46-gun modified Apollo-class fifth-rate frigate of 1,103 tons burthen. She undertook an important voyage to the Pacific in 1824...
. It is now considered to be a subspecies of the Short-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
The Short-eared Owl is a species of typical owl . In Scotland this species of owl is often referred to as a cataface, grass owl or short-horned hootlet. Owls belonging to genus Asio are known as the eared owls, as they have tufts of feathers resembling mammalian ears. These "ear" tufts may or may...
, Asio flammeus, although Storrs Olson does not consider it to be distinct from Asio flammeus flammeus.
Threats to survival
Pueo nest on the ground, which makes their eggs and young susceptible to predation by the introduced Small Asian Mongoose and other predators, as well as by bulldozers.Pueo are strongly affected by light pollution
Light pollution
Light pollution, also known as photopollution or luminous pollution, is excessive or obtrusive artificial light.The International Dark-Sky Association defines light pollution as:...
. They are often killed in vehicular accidents in which they dive toward the headlights of cars, possibly in an attempt to hunt. Many such collisions have been reported on Interstate H-3
Interstate H-3
Interstate H-3 is an intrastate Interstate Highway located on the island of O'ahu in the state of Hawai'i in the United States. H-3 is also known as the John A. Burns Freeway...
and other newly-built roadways in areas which once held high populations of pueo.
Pueo appear to be somewhat resistant to the avian malaria
Avian malaria
Avian malaria is a parasitic disease of birds.-Etiology:Avian malaria is most notably caused by Plasmodium relictum, a protist that infects birds in tropical regions...
that has decimated many other endemic bird populations in Hawaii; however, they have recently become victim to a mysterious "Sick Owl Syndrome", or SOS, in which large numbers of pueo have been found walking dazedly on roads, leading to death by collision. The cause of Sick Owl Syndrome is unknown; it is suspected that pesticide
Pesticide
Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
toxicity may be responsible, particularly through secondary rodenticide poisoning. However, it has also been hypothesized that the cause may be an infectious agent, seizure-like confusion due to light pollution
Light pollution
Light pollution, also known as photopollution or luminous pollution, is excessive or obtrusive artificial light.The International Dark-Sky Association defines light pollution as:...
, or a variety of other causes.
External links
- More information with sounds produced by the pueo
- Article on the pueo by Veronica S. Schweitzeri |date=2005-10-01 |accessdate=}}