Birdwatching on the Big Island of Hawai
Feb 7, 2020 17:37:11 GMT -8
Gord, Dave, and 4 more like this
Post by imperialbirders on Feb 7, 2020 17:37:11 GMT -8
We are birdwatching on the Big Island of Hawaii. Feeling a little guilty that we have missed the bad weather in BC. Most people think of Hawaii as sun and beaches, but for us the Big Island is great weather, good birdwatching, lots of nature, history, lack of crowds and wonderful local people. There are many bird species to see, most were introduced, but there are many indigenous and endemic species and several seasonal migrants.
Many years ago, when I still could hike the most difficult trails, we saw several of the rare and endangered species loving in the more remote regions of the Big Island, away from the feral house cat (tens of thousands populate the Island) and mongoose. We were lucky to see the last two ‘Alala, (endemic species) known commonly as Hawaiian Crows, in the wild in 2000. There are no ‘Alala living in the wild today. There is a captive breeding program but it has had poor success in reintroduction to the wild.
Other endemic species include the Hawaiian Goose or Nene, sacred bird of the Hawaiians and state bird of Hawaii; the Pueo or Hawaiian Short-eared owl; the ‘Io or Hawaiian Hawk; the honey creepers, the Apapane, the ‘I’iwi, the ‘Amakihi and more.
Migrants include the Kolea (Pacific Golden-Plover), the ‘Ulili (Wandering Tattler), the ‘Akekeke (Ruddy Turnstone) who spend the winter months in Hawaii but fly to the High Arctic to nest in the summer months. Two years ago, a lone Snow Goose arrived and visited with some Nene near our condo which is a rare sighting for the Big Island.
At the Kilauea Volcano, you can see Tropicbird gliding in the thermals and nesting on the crater cliffs out of reach of cats and mongoose.
I suggest purchasing the Hawaii Audubon Society book titled Hawaii’s Birds as it has good photos and maps showing locations for birdwatching.
Here are a few photos of some of the birds we saw in the last few weeks.
Kolea Pacific Golden Plover Waikoloa Beach Big Island of Hawaii by Imperial Birders, on Flickr
‘Akekeke Ruddy Turnstone Waikoloa Beach Resort Big Island of Hawaii by Imperial Birders, on Flickr
‘Ulili Wandering Tattler Laupāhoehoe Hawaii by Imperial Birders, on Flickr
Pueo Hawaiian Short-eared Owl Old Saddle Road by Imperial Birders, on Flickr
‘Auku’u Black-Crowned Night-Heron (male) Waikoloa Pond Big Island of Hawaii by Imperial Birders, on Flickr
Northern Mockingbird (alien species) by Imperial Birders, on Flickr
Saffron Finch Laupāhoehoe Hawaii by Imperial Birders, on Flickr
Apapane Hawaii Volanoes National Park Ohi’a Forest near Kilauea Volcano by Imperial Birders, on Flickr
Many years ago, when I still could hike the most difficult trails, we saw several of the rare and endangered species loving in the more remote regions of the Big Island, away from the feral house cat (tens of thousands populate the Island) and mongoose. We were lucky to see the last two ‘Alala, (endemic species) known commonly as Hawaiian Crows, in the wild in 2000. There are no ‘Alala living in the wild today. There is a captive breeding program but it has had poor success in reintroduction to the wild.
Other endemic species include the Hawaiian Goose or Nene, sacred bird of the Hawaiians and state bird of Hawaii; the Pueo or Hawaiian Short-eared owl; the ‘Io or Hawaiian Hawk; the honey creepers, the Apapane, the ‘I’iwi, the ‘Amakihi and more.
Migrants include the Kolea (Pacific Golden-Plover), the ‘Ulili (Wandering Tattler), the ‘Akekeke (Ruddy Turnstone) who spend the winter months in Hawaii but fly to the High Arctic to nest in the summer months. Two years ago, a lone Snow Goose arrived and visited with some Nene near our condo which is a rare sighting for the Big Island.
At the Kilauea Volcano, you can see Tropicbird gliding in the thermals and nesting on the crater cliffs out of reach of cats and mongoose.
I suggest purchasing the Hawaii Audubon Society book titled Hawaii’s Birds as it has good photos and maps showing locations for birdwatching.
Here are a few photos of some of the birds we saw in the last few weeks.
Kolea Pacific Golden Plover Waikoloa Beach Big Island of Hawaii by Imperial Birders, on Flickr
‘Akekeke Ruddy Turnstone Waikoloa Beach Resort Big Island of Hawaii by Imperial Birders, on Flickr
‘Ulili Wandering Tattler Laupāhoehoe Hawaii by Imperial Birders, on Flickr
Pueo Hawaiian Short-eared Owl Old Saddle Road by Imperial Birders, on Flickr
‘Auku’u Black-Crowned Night-Heron (male) Waikoloa Pond Big Island of Hawaii by Imperial Birders, on Flickr
Northern Mockingbird (alien species) by Imperial Birders, on Flickr
Saffron Finch Laupāhoehoe Hawaii by Imperial Birders, on Flickr
Apapane Hawaii Volanoes National Park Ohi’a Forest near Kilauea Volcano by Imperial Birders, on Flickr