Studying Fossils

Paleontology is the study of fossils or more precisely the study of prehistoric life. When Paleontologist Helen James began searching for fossils back in the late 1970s, not much was known about the prehistoric life of Hawaii. After 30 years and over 40 extinct bird discoveries later, she and others continue to uncover new bird species as well as Hawaii's natural history.

Lava tubes - Lava tubes are the laboratory for researchers studying the history of birds on the Hawaiian Islands. These geologic formations are the result of lava flows. When the outer magma cools faster than the inner magma, it creates a tunnel that can extend for thousands of feet. Within these tunnels are a wealth of bird fossils and bones dating back thousands of years, back to before the first humans arrived on the islands.
Birds may have gone into lava tubes to hide from bad storms or were trapped in them because they could not fly. Once they traveled inside the dark, winding underground caves, many did not make it out.

Bones preserved - Hidden from the light and shielded from the forces of nature, bird bones in lava tubes were preserved for centuries. They would be a crucial resource for when scientists started to piece together the natural history of the Hawaiian Islands.

What petrel bones tell us - Preserved fossils are being analyzed and providing information about the history of certain species. For example, based on current observations, it was thought that the Hawaiian Petrel lived primarily in high altitude locations. However, fossils of these seabirds discovered in lava tubes and other fossil sites near the coast and all around the Hawaiian Islands indicate the petrel's habitat was much larger than previously thought. Using radiocarbon dating, a dating method which relies on measuring the constant decay of carbon 14 that occurs once an organism dies, researchers are able to discern how old these bones are. Knowing the age of these bones can tell researchers how long ago certain birds went extinct. It can also answer how long ago birds, like the petrel, were removed from coastal residences due to modifications in their natural habitat.

Science leads to conservation - The bone findings from James and other paleontologists, especially Storrs Olson, have revolutionized the view of Hawaii's natural history. More importantly, these discoveries are informing and inspiring conservation efforts to help protect endangered species. Conservationists are now working to not only preserve habitat where endangered birds are found today, but restore habitat where they were found historically, giving them a greater chance for survival.

Paleontologist Helen James descends into the underground tunnel to discover Hawaii's natural history, Anne Wiley

Once inside a headlamp is necessary to navigate the dark, jagged terrain

Plant roots penetrate the tubes' ceiling

The winding nature of these tubes make it essential for researchers to place down orange hiking tape in order to find their way out before nightfall