Forest Restoration for Birds

Help Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project restore a native forest

Over the past few years, MFBRP and volunteers have planted about 20,000 seedlings in the Nakula Natural Area Reserve on southeast Maui. This fall we will continue these efforts with your help!

We are now selecting individuals to go on four upcoming trips. We have 3-4 spots per trip.

What to Expect:

These trips are typically five days in length and require a helicopter ride in and out of the reserve. Our site is remote, so we will be camping during this time. MFBRP provides basic equipment like tents, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack, rain gear, and safety equipment. You will need warm clothes and good hiking boots. Upon acceptance into our volunteer program, you will get a more detailed list of items to bring.

Please think about your schedule and your physical limitations before signing up for a trip. We work long days (~10 hours), get up early, and have to walk on steep uneven ground. It can be wet, muddy, and cold. Our site is also high in elevation (~5,000 ft).

But this is a rewarding experience! We are planting these native seedlings in order to restore a forest that has been degraded by non-native plants and ungulates like pigs. We will eventually re-introduce native forest birds like the Kiwikiu to this area. Your hard work will bring back the forest and the birds!

The trips will mostly be planting, but we also need to do invasive species management, seed collection, and plant monitoring. These other activities are spaced throughout the four trips.

Trip Dates:

• August 27-31
• October 22-27
• November 18-23 
• December 10-14

Next Steps:

• Use this form to sign up or if you prefer you can email us back.
• Feel free to contact us with any questions.
• Once confirmed on a trip, volunteer paperwork must be filled out as soon as possible.
• View our Volunteer Packet for more information.
• To see more information about the restoration site, go here. The trip summary from last year can be viewed here.