#extinctbirds

Kōpiko, or forest wild coffee (Psychotria mariniana), is a tree endemic to Hawaiʻi. It still grows in the same montane forests the kākāwahie once called home. Though the two species didn’t rely on each other directly, it’s likely that the honeycreeper foraged among the tree’s branches and collected pieces for nesting material.

Mauritius Blue Pigeon reconstruction With a copy of a drawing from the Gelderland journal #extinctbirds #dodo #bird #taxidermy #taxidermyart #dframptontaxidermy https://www.instagram.com/p/CghTF_NKTEi/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The relationship between the honeycreeper and these palms was a delicate one. The Hawaiian pritchardia (Pritchardia affinis) is now critically endangered, largely due to introduced pigs and rats that destroy young plants. The number of surviving palms was not sufficient to support the ʻula-ʻai-hāwane, which depended on them.

Many flowering plants, such as the Alakaʻi swamp lobelia (Lobelia villosa), relied on Hawaiian honeyeaters as pollinators. Without their historical partners, many of these flowers are now dependent on generalist species or wind pollination, leaving their future uncertain as well.

The last time anyone reported seeing an ʻōʻū was in 1989, and in 2024, this species of Hawaiian honeycreeper was declared extinct. Before its sudden decline in the 20th century, the bird was fairly widespread across the islands, flying long distances in search of fruit. Its preferred food was the fruit of the ʻieʻie (Freycinetia arborea). In return for this nourishment, the ʻōʻū helped disperse the seeds of the vine-like epiphytic plant across the islands.

Great Auk reconstruction based on the Bullock’s Papa Westray Auk and one of my dodo skeleton reconstructions #extinctbirds #extinctanimals #taxidermy #museumexhibit #extinct #dframptontaxidermist #natralhistory #greatauk #dodo #dodoskeleton https://www.instagram.com/p/CcBDP_sqYZf/?utm_medium=tumblr

Newton’s parakeet reconstruction #extinctbirds #birds #taxidermyart #parakeets #dframptontaxidermy #taxidermy #extinct https://www.instagram.com/p/CgzflgNKW_i/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

@chrisgpackham2 happily taking delivery of his Great Auk recreation #chrisgpakham2 #extinctbirds #extinctanimals #birds #extinction #taxidermyuk #taxidermy #d.Frampton taxidermy #museumexhibit #greatauk https://www.instagram.com/p/ClWeIVDKs7_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=