Bird Extinctions in the Hawaiian Islands (2014)

Public Lecture with Helen F. James, Curator-in-Charge, Division of Birds, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution

Ornithologist Helen James takes us to an archipelago that has been an epicenter for bird extinctions: the Hawaiian Islands. When people first set foot there approximately 800 years ago, the islands were home to a rich diversity of birds that included many unusual--even flightless--species. Most of these birds became extinct after the islands were colonized, leaving behind only their bones. James will discuss her strategies for finding the remains of these extinct species, reconstruct the history of their demise, and highlight lessons that can be drawn from their story.