>I will be on Kauai April 15- and would like some info on Hawaiian
>birding. I am researching on the web. But wanted any thoughts you
might
>have. I remember the tropicbirds off the Na Pali coast and as I was
>hiking.. But when I was there many years ago I wasn't a birder. Thank
>you, Patty Manley

Kauai is one of my favorite places that I have ever been to and bird.
Well if you want to spend time watching seabirds, the Kilauea Lighthouse
is the place to go. I have seen many species of birds there including
the large colony of Red-footed boobies and a few Brown Boobies. And it
is one of the few places in Hawaii were Red-tailed Tropicbirds can
outnumber the White-tails. Great Frigatebirds are constantly soaring the
area harrassing the boobies. And Laysan Albatross should be nesting at
Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge at the time you will be there.
Along with Wedge Tailed Shearwaters which nest in burrows under the
sidewalk.

A neat place to stop by on your way up to the lighthouse is Hanalei
National Wildlife Refuge. From there I saw many Hawaiian Coots and if
your lucky the hawaiian moorhens. I am not sure if the Hawaiian Stilts
will be there at this time, usually the nest on the island of Niihau and
fly back to Kauai after breeding. I know I missed them the last time I
was over there.

Now for native forest birds, you have to head up to Kokee (passing
through the beautiful Waimea Canyon) When I was there, I saw many of the
native forest birds by hiking the Pihea Ridge Trail. Birds that I saw
along this trail were Kauai Amakihi, Anianiau, Akekee, Kauai Creeper
<--one of my best birds of the trip! And Iiwi, Apapane's and Kauai
Elepaio's are pretty abundant aswell. And a nice treat on the way back
was a large flock of Nene (Hawaiian Goose) in the parking lot.

There is a book that you should get for your trip, I don't know how I
would have planned any birding there without it:
Enjoying Birds In Hawaii. by H. Douglas Pratt.
It shows in full detail all the great hotspots Hawaii has to offer.
Good luck on the Garden Isle!


Ryan Shaw
Lacey, WA
rtshaw at juno.com <-e-mail only, can't process file attachments
Lftpitcher at aol.com <-Internet and file attachment capable.


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