Birds on the Big Island

On our last day in Hawaii, after sending the kids off to Oahu to stay with Scott and Anna, Chris and I had the great privilege of going birding with photographer and naturalist Jack Jeffries. Jack is a biologist with a long history working in the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge.

The Refuge is reachable down a partially unpaved and massively pothole plagued road… about an hour from the place where the summit road meets the saddle road on the Big Island. Off-limits to the general public, it was like entering a primeval garden. It is here where birders can find the six Hawaiian honeycreepers.

But I was really there to see the Nenes and their babies!

I am a Nene lover. The Hawaiian goose is the sweetest cutest goose in the world…. well, I have to admit I was a bit surprised when Jack got too close to a pair protecting their goslings and the Papa Nene, assumed a dive bombing posture and rushed Jack hissing like a snake. That was very impressive and also adorable. I love them!

We also saw the Hawaii Elepaio, the Iiwe, the Hawaii Creeper, the Hawaii Amakihi, the Omao, and the Akiapolaau (aka the Aki). We mainly birded with our binos, so I didn’t get many photos, but I think the big thrill was the Aki. We got fabulous pictures and really got to look at this endangered and rare bird. I am also a big fan of the I’iwe–the iconic bird of Hawaii–and was thrilled to finally see one in real life! We heard their song in Volcano National Park but never managed to catch a glimpse of one. Their song is described as “a couple of whistles, the sound of balls dropping in water, the rubbing of balloons together, and the squeaking of a rusty hinge.”