text:  It is the year of the forest bird, and this past spring, scientists were a step closer to releasing a flock of endangered alala, or Hawaiian crow, in East Maui. The birds have been extinct in the wild since 2002, and right now, 120 birds are being raised in captivity at two breeding facilities, one on the Big Island in Keauhou and the other at the Maui Bird Conservation Center, with some help from the San Diego Zoo. The Conversation's Lillian Song spoke with Michelle Bogardas and Rachel Kingsley