The Loss Of Hawaiian Birds

[george simon]

Until the mid ,the 1800s Hawaiian Islands were free of the mosquitoes that transmit AVAIN MALARIA.That changed when the crew of a whaling ship dumped musty water casks into a Hawaiian stream,there by introducing the larvae of a mosquito that could spread the parasite to the native birds.The birds of HAWAII did not have the immunity for this disease. This led to the extinction of many of the native Hawaiian birds most of the birds in Hawaii today are not native to Hawaii,these birds were brought in to fill the vaccum caused by the loss of the native types. So we can see that a simple thing like the dumping of musty water cask can led to the extinction of many fine birds. GEORGE SIMON

[TerriB]

Didn't know that, George. What a shame that a seemingly harmless activity would have just drastic consequences!!!