Fulica alai is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands (USA), where it is found on all the main islands except Kaho`olawe<sup>14</sup>. Formerly, it was also absent from Lâna`i, which, along with Kaho`olawe, lacked suitable wetland habitat<sup>14</sup>. Stragglers reach as far west as Kure in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. It declined dramatically during the 20th century<sup>2</sup>, although it increased on O`ahu from the mid-1970s to the late 1980s. During this period, highly variable numbers on other islands showed no local trends¹². Survey data from 1976 to 2003 reveal short-term population fluctuations, with a long-term slight increase in the overall population¹⁴. The current population probably fluctuates between 2,000 and 4,000 individuals, with Kaua`i, O`ahu and Maui supporting 80% of this total^5,10,14. Some 30 colonies or concentrations are known^1,6.