Maui

===Wildlife===
[[File:Green Sea Turtle, Maui.jpg|thumb|A [[green sea turtle]] near Maui]]

The birdlife of Maui lacks the high concentration of endemic birdlife found in some other Hawaiian islands. As recently as 200,000 years ago it was linked to the neighboring islands of Moloka{{okina}}i, Lāna{{okina}}i, and Kaho{{okina}}olawe in a large island called Maui Nui, thus reducing the chance of species endemic to any single one of these. Although Moloka{{okina}}i does have several endemic species of birds, some extinct and some not, in modern times Maui, Lāna{{okina}}i, and Kaho{{okina}}olawe have not had much endemic birdlife. In ancient times during and after the period in which Maui was part of Maui Nui, Maui boasted a species of [[moa-nalo]] (which was also found on Moloka{{okina}}i, Lāna{{okina}}i, and Kaho{{okina}}olawe), a species of harrier (the [[Wood harrier]], shared with Moloka{{okina}}i), an undescribed sea eagle (Maui only), and three species of ground-dwelling flightless ibis (''[[Apteribis]] sp.''), plus a host of other species. Today, the most notable non-extinct endemics of Maui are probably the [['Akohekohe]] (''Palmeria dolei'') and the [[Maui parrotbill]] (''Pseudonestor xanthophrys''), also known as Kiwikiu, both of which are critically endangered and only found in an alpine forest on the windward slopes of Haleakalā. Conservation efforts have looked at how to mitigate female parrotbill mortality since this has been identified as a key driving factor driving the decline in population. The parrotbill has a notable lack of resistance to mosquito-born diseases, so only forests above 1500 meters of elevation provide refuge for most parrotbills. The habitat is in the process of being restored on leeward east Maui as of 2018.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Extinction Risk and Conservation Options for Maui Parrotbill, an Endangered Hawaiian Honeycreeper |first1=Hanna L. |last1=Mounce |first2=Christopher C. |last2=Warren |first3=Conor P. |last3=McGowan |first4=Eben H. |last4=Paxton |first5=Jim J. |last5=Groombridge |date=May 9, 2018 |journal=Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management |volume=9 |issue=2 |pages=367–382 |doi=10.3996/072017-JFWM-059|doi-access=free }}</ref> 
As Maui's population continues to grow, the previously undeveloped areas of the island that provided a refuge for the wildlife are decreasing in size as they are becoming more developed. This is proving to be a risk for the endangered species of the island. Both flora and fauna habitats need to be protected for the sake of the numerous endangered species that live there. More than 250 species of native flora are federally listed as endangered or threatened.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.mauicounty.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/26582 |title=Maui Island Plan |access-date=2022-03-30 |archive-date=2022-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402164953/https://www.mauicounty.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/26582 |url-status=live }}</ref> Birds found on other islands as well as Maui include the [[I'iwi]] (''Drepanis coccinea''], [['Apapane]] (''Himatione sanguinea''), [[Hawaiʻi ʻamakihi|Hawai'i 'Amakihi]] (''Chlorodrepanis virens),'' as [[Maui ʻalauahio|Maui 'Alauahio]] (Paroreomyza Montana) well as the [[Nene (bird)|Nene]] (''Branta sandvicensis'', the state bird of Hawaii), [[Hawaiian coot]] (''Fulica alai''), [[Hawaiian stilt]] (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni) and a number of others. The Winter months provide a great opportunity for whale watching, as thousands of humpback whales migrate annually and pass by the island.