Maui Birding

[b1schmor]

Hello birders,

I was fortunate enough to avoid the miserable weather of the valley lately and spend a week in Maui. I didn't go with birding in mind but found I did do a lot of birding because of the outstanding scenery to be seen and my lack of patience for lying on the beach.

While researching birds in Maui I found little information and thus I will provide a trip report for anybody intending to go. I was quite impressed with the birds I saw.

The guide I used was "Hawaii's Birds" produced by the Hawaii Audubon Society. This guide has actual photographs instead of the drawn plates found in most guides. I found the guide to be adequate for what was needed. The best information on the web was also provided by the Hawaii Audubon Society. While I was there I bought "The Birdwatcher's Guide to Hawaii", which was helpful at times. Both guides can be purchased at bookstores on the Island.

I managed to see 35 species-18 introduced-16 life birds. Hawaii is very interesting for the fact that birding close to see level results in seeing almost completely introduced species (none of the sought-after endemics-very sad). Some of them are exceptionally beautiful. Most introduced species have been established for close to one hundred years.

Here's a list of introduced birds I saw:
1, Red-crested Cardinal (Brazil) common
2. Common Myna (India) common
3. House Finch (North America) fairly common
4. Northern Mockingbird (North America) fairly common
5. Java Sparrow (Indonesia) Common
6. Gray Francolin (India) Common
7. Chukar (Asia) Saw five birds at Haleakala National Park
8. Ring-necked Pheasant (Asia)
9. Sky Lark (England) Common
10.Melodious Laughingthrush (China) Saw one bird on the coast in Haleakala National Park
11.Cattle Egret Common
12. Japanese White-eye (Japan)Common
13. Spotted Dove (China)Common
14. Rock Pigeon (Europe) Common
15. Zebra Dove (Asia) Common
16. Northern Cardinal (US) Fairly Common
17. House Sparrow (Europe) Common
18. Nutmeg Mannikan (Southeast Asia)

Who needs to bird around the world-just go to Maui and you can get a taste of the birds seen elsewhere.

Maui also has some of those sought-after endemics. I found four of the forest endemics on a walk in Haleakala National Park on a nature trail located at Hosmer Grove. In the right habitat these birds where common with the exception of one.

19.Hawaii Amakihi--Common(This was a big milestone for me-my 1000th lifer!!)
20.Maui 'Alauahio--fairly common
21.'Apapane--Common
22.'I'iwi--common

Also in the area was the endemic goose called the Nene.(23)

The Coast line also offered up some good birds:
24.White-tailed Tropicbird (Saw three)
25.Brown Booby (Two)
26.Black Noddy (Many on the coast by Hana)
27.Wandering Tattler (Fairly common)
28.Ruddy Turnstone (one)
29.Sanderling (two)
30.Pacific Golden-Plover (Common)
31. Hawaiian Coot (Endemic) Common in the right locality
32. Black-necked Stilt (Endemic Sub-species) Common but local
33. Northern Shoveler (Common but local)
34. Black-crowned Night-Heron (Common)
35. Short-eared Owl (one)

The best birding spots for species that are not introduced are Haleakala National Park and Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge. To see the endemics just walk around the resort areas. Many have feeders where you will see most of the introduced birds.

Brent Schmor
Harrison Mills

[Dave]

Hi Brent,

Thanks for sharing the report and congrats on your milestone! I am only halfway there. Certainly sounds like a real assortment of introduced birds there.

Glad to hear you enjoyed your Spring Break. Over here our week long break comes at the end of April. I am currently trying to figure out a way to capitalize on the shorebird migration while considering family needs. Always an entertaining juggle.

Thanks for the post,

Dave Beeke

[b1schmor]

Thanks Dave,

I hope you get your chance to see those eastern shorebirds. If you do, post some of those great pictures we keep seeing from China.

Brent

[Gord]

Nice and informative read Brent. Congrats on 1000! What a milestone! Around 690 to go for me!!

Need to juggle the family stuff...Dave figured it out though, just take them to a new area where every bird you see (almost) is new! (Im still convinced that when I travel one day the first bird I see when I get off the plane will be an European Starling. ;D ;D )

[Dave]

Hi Gord

Not to go on a bunny trail and steal Brent's post, but I just finally added the European Starling to the Asian list last week! After being here for 8 months, I saw 1 with a group of White-cheeked Starlings migrating through!

Brent, my goal moving here was to see 150 species in this area of China. After a month I changed that goal to 200, as the variety and amount of habitat were both much more than I expected. I am at 204 over here on the China list, so maybe I need to change it again to 250 before heading back 'home' in early July!

Dave
(A long way from 1000.)

[Dave]

What is a Francolin?

[b1schmor]

Dave,

they're similiar to quail/grouse/partridge etc... Common in African and Asia.

Brent

[b1schmor]

Gord,

you are probably right on the Starling. At most airports I have been to the first bird seen is either a Starling or a House Sparrow. In Maui it was the House Sparrow.

Brent

[butterfly]

Impressive list!

[tmanson]

Brent: Congratulations on your 1000th world bird. I know that quest has been a consideration of yours for a little while.
From what I remember about the birds of Kauai, the situation is the same there. All the introduced birds are at the lower elevations, and the endemics are on top of the Island.
I remember a discussion about mosquitoes being the culpirt. They carried diseases to the endemics when they were first introduced to the Islands. At higher elevations, in the cool temperatures, they don't exist, and, therefore the endemics continue to survive there. There may be other reasons. also related to predation, but I don't remember the details.
Presumbably the introduced birds had built up immunities to mosquitoe borne infections??
Had you heard this explaination?
Cheers, Thor

Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.