Glad your Hawaiian trip was fruitful. If you visit Hawaii again, I
suggest you go to the island Kauai, drive up the Waimea Canyon to Kokee
then take the trail to the Alakai on Mt. Waialale. Might see endemics
like the Puaiohi (Small Kauai Thush, Kamao (Large Kaui Thrush), Kauia
Creeper, Anianiau. Go north from Lihue to Kiluea N.W. Refuge where there
transplanted Nene, a breeding colony of Laysan Albatross (still there in
April), breeding Red-footed Boobies and odds and ends of seabirds.
Farther along to Hanalei N.W. Refuge to see Hawaiian Black-necked Stilt
(Aeo), Hawaiian Duck (Koloa), Hawaiian Coot (Ale Keokeo), Hawaiian
Moorhen (Ale Ula). Look for the introduced Greater Necklaced Laughing
Thrush and the White Rumped Shama in the general area.

Oh, yes, if you take the trail to the Alakai Swamp a high altitude tree
area, be prepared for wet weather because Mt. Waialeale is the wettest
spot in the world having 600 inches of rain some year. Another biologist
and I spent one night in our tent there when it rained 37 inches in 24
hours. We got a wee might wet.

Gene Kridler
Old Broken Down Retired Biologist













Greetings Tweeters,

> Bunny and I with a couple of our birding friends
> from Cleveland spent 5 days on the ?big island? before traveling
> to Honolulu for a ?mini-reunion? of my Princeton Class. As usual, the
> birding in the state of Hawaii was most interesting.
>
> On the Island of Hawaii we stayed in a condominium 100
> yds. south of the Punalu?u black sand beach at the south end of the
> island. At the feeder outside our window were flocks of Saffron
> Finches, Northern Cardinals, House Finches and House Sparrows. Common
> Mynas were everywhere, as were Zebra and Spotted Doves. Pacific
> Golden-Plover single birds were on lawns and golf courses, and bunches
> of Yellow-Fronted Canaries and Japanese White-eyes were seen in the
> brush.
>
> On Sunday (3/21) we had signed up for a ?birdwatching
> adventure? with Hawaii Forest and Trail out of Kailua-Kona. This was
> a 12 hr. trip to the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge on the
> east slopes of Mauna Kea. The altitude of 3-4,000 ft. puts the area
> above mosquito levels, protecting the native birds from the deadly
> Avian Malaria to which they have no immunity. The introduced birds
> are immune. Our leader was Kevin Schneider who was excellent at
> locating birds and leading a fine trip. We saw 9 species of native
> birds on this trip including the Pueo (Short-eared owl), ?Elepaio,
> ?Oma?o, Hawai?i Amakihi, ?Akiapola?au, Hawai?i Creeper, ?Akepa, I?iwi
> and ?Apapane. We had spectacular scope views of the ?Akiapola?au
> picking at bark with its short straight lower bill, and then removing
> its prey with its curved upper bill and tongue. Additional introduced
> birds seen included Chukar, Black Francolin, Erckel?s Francolin, Kalij
> Pheasant, Ring-necked Pheasant, Wild Turkey, California Quail, and a
> Red-billed Leiothrix was heard.
>
> On Monday we explored South Point (the most southern point
> in the U.S.) and saw many Sky Larks, a flock of Ruddy Turnstones. No
> seabirds were seen. We explored Whittington Beach Park on our way
> back to the condo. And saw the Yellow-billed Cardinal, a mature and
> immature ?Auku?u (Black-crowned Night-Heron), a Great Blue Heron, and
> a white egret of some sort. The last had very black legs and feet in
> flight, and was all white with a yellow bill. It seemed small for a
> Common Egret (not seen on the islands) but could have been a
> non-breeding Cattle Egret. Back at the condo. we saw some Lesser
> Yellowlegs on the beach along with some Sea Turtles.
>
> On Tuesday we explored the Hawai?i Volcanoes National Park
> where we added the White-tailed Tropicbird to our list (flying in the
> craters), as well as the Black Noddy at the closed end of the Chain of
> Craters Road at the ocean. We never saw a Nene (Hawai?ian Goose) even
> though we passed dozens of ?Nene crossing? signs along the highway.
>
> Wednesday we flew to Honolulu where we stayed
> on Waikiki Beach. The Palms around the hotel were loaded with
> Red-vented and Red-whiskered Bulbuls, as well as several mating White
> (Fairy) Terns. The lawns hosted bunches of Java Sparrows along with
> the House Finches and House Sparrows, and Rock Pigeons which were
> almost all white. On trips around Diamond Head and the east end of
> the island, we saw some Red-footed Boobies in flight as well as an
> occasional ?Iwa (Great Frigatebird).
>
> The trip was marvelous in spite of a couple of episodes of
> thunderstorms and deluging rainfall. Resources I would recommend
> include ?Hawaii?s Birds? (Hawaii Audubon Society), ?The Birds of
> Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific? (Pratt, Bruner and Berrett), and the
> revised edition of ?Enjoying Birds and Other Wildlife in Hawaii? by
> Doug Pratt (2002). Also, if you?re on the big island, check
> out Hawaii Forest and Trail and their trips. (I have no financial
> interest in any of the above).
>
> Best birding wishes to you all,
>
> Fran Wood
> (male)
>
> Seattle (Madrona)
>
>
> 206-323-2296
>