In Kauai, be sure to go to the Kilauea Lighthouse at the north end of the island (Hy 56, Marker #23), It is the very northern tip of the islands and may great seabirds nest there. There are information placards, etc also for the novice. Albatross, Shearwaters,etc. A few of the nearly extinct Nene Goose are tagged and wandering the property also.


Another place that is near there (very N end) is the end of the road Kee Beach Park. There is a trail starting there that goes all the way to the Napali Coast, That is something like 10-20 miles, but if you can hike about an hour each way, there is very scenic walk overlooking the ocean all the way, a nice seclude beach at the end. You will see seabirds most of the way (at a great distance) and have such a beautiful hike that even if it isn't perfect for birding, you will be glad you did it. My family of 15 relatives age 15 to 60 (all fairly fit) made the hike very easily, though one 25 year old w a tricky knee (and not in the best shape) had a little trouble.


Here is a pretty good overview map of the island


http://www.summitpacificinc.com/kauai_map.html




Also, here is a paragraph that I copied and pasted from a previous tweeter poster that I noticed about Kauai, Thank you and credit to the author who I do not have a record of, sorry ;


" Hi Tweets,



We recently returned from The Garden Island of Kauai staying in the Princeville area. On one of our bird walks through a local neighborhood of homes with lush vegetation, we encountered another birder who said he was an Albatross Caretaker. He asked if we wanted to see a pair of mating Laysan Albatross and of course we eagerly accepted. The birds were in a vacant lot about 50 away between two homes and indeed they were performing typical Albatross mating behavior, bill dueling and cooing to each other.



Later we visited the nearby Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This sanctuary is located at the Kilauea Lighthouse. Many mating pairs of Albatross were also observed at that location.



According to the Albatross Caretaker the birds commonly nest in populated areas on the north shore of Kauai. The caretaker makes rounds through these areas trying to make sure that the birds are not overly disturbed since they commonly nest on the many golf courses and under the lush vegetation of the adjacent homes. Many of the birds have been banded and usually return to the same nesting area for many years. They seem to coexist with the local human population with no problems except for humans getting too close and with dogs.



This area also has many nesting pairs of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters. We were able to see a fledgling up close at the NWR and some at the entrances of their nesting burrows.



Red-footed Boobies were very abundant, soaring and roosting on the cliffs and in the vegetation around the NWR. White-tailed Tropic Birds were also seen.



We also kayaked on the Hanalei River in the Hanalei NWR and saw many Black-crowned Night Herons, breeding Nenes, Hawaiian Coots, Koloas, Common Moorhens, Black-necked Stilts, and of course hundreds of alien species everywhere.




The golf courses and lawns have foraging Pacific Golden Plovers on all parts of the island."




Good Luck,

Steve Reed







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