Habitat Loss and Degradation:
* Coastal development: Urbanization and coastal development directly destroy their breeding and feeding habitat.
* Saltwater intrusion: Rising sea levels and development activities lead to saltwater intrusion in freshwater wetlands, which are essential for the stilts' survival.
* Agriculture and agriculture runoff: Agricultural practices, including pesticide and fertilizer use, degrade wetland habitats and pollute water sources.
* Introduced predators: The presence of introduced predators like cats and rats can decimate stilt populations.
Other Threats:
* Climate change: Sea-level rise, extreme weather events, and changes in precipitation patterns further threaten the stilts' habitat.
* Pollution: Pollution from industrial and agricultural activities can contaminate their food and water sources.
* Disease: Exposure to diseases from introduced species or changes in habitat can impact stilt health.
Conservation efforts:
* Habitat restoration and protection: Efforts focus on protecting and restoring wetland habitats, including establishing protected areas and restoring degraded wetlands.
* Predator control: Programs are in place to control populations of introduced predators like cats and rats.
* Monitoring and research: Ongoing research and monitoring help track stilt populations and understand threats to their survival.
It's important to note that Hawaiian stilts are currently listed as "Endangered" by the IUCN Red List. Their survival hinges on addressing these threats and implementing effective conservation measures.