TRIP REPORTS FROM HAWAI'I AND THE PACIFIC

A Visit to Upcountry Maui - 9-12 May 2003 by Satoko Lincoln

The Kolea counting in Honolulu was over, and my husband and I spent the last weekend (9-12 May 2003) in Keokea (“upcountry”) on east Maui, not far from the Haleakala National Park. All along Rt. 377, we were welcomed by the cool, bluish purple Jacarandas trees in full bloom, splendid in a soft, airy sort of way. Even in this “essentially birdless” ranch land, there were a few birds interesting enough for visitors from Honolulu. In Keokea we had close looks at Gray Francolins, including a chick about one-quarter the body length of an adult, and Northern Mockingbirds, which came within a few feet of us. Northern Mockingbird is the state bird for five states in the U.S. All of the five states are in the South where, apparently, the bird is called just “Mockingbird.” (There is no Southern Mockingbird.) My source is “State Birds” by Mel White, an article in the Winter 2003 issue of Living Bird, published by Cornell Ornithology Lab. I thought I came to understand some of its charm on Maui, but I wished they stopped imitating the Mynah, as the numerous Mynah made more than enough noise by themselves. On Haleakala at about 6000 feet we had a good look at a Pueo working close to the slopes beside the road, and at the “Nene Crossing” sign just after the Park entrance a Ring-necked Pheasant flew across the road. Where was the Nene? Their nesting season was just over, and they would be out in a couple of months, according to the Park ranger we spoke with.

Jacaranda on Maui © by Satoko Lincoln, May 2003.

We went to Hosmer Grove two mornings but saw only the usual suspects. We were somewhat surprised to see more I'iwi than 'Apapane. I was rewarded by my first sightings of a juvenile I'iwi (exactly the shape of an adult but with variegated markings) and a juvenile 'Apapane (dark brown with cocked-up tail, looking a bit like an Elepaio), each in the company of an adult. One of my photos shows a banded I'iwi in Mamane tree. (Would this be of interest to anyone?) A richly green-and-yellow male 'Amakihi was busy pecking at a decaying tree stump in the Eucalyptus grove, splashing dirt and making rustling noises, finally pulling out a long earthworm. A less colorful and smaller female 'Amakihi was at work in the beautiful Haleakala Sandalwood(?) tree near the lookout. A bright yellow Maui Alauahio hopped along the fence at the bottom of the picnic area. At Kula Botanical Garden (3300 feet), at least one 'Apapane was there, piercing the bottoms of pink hibiscus flowers from the outside to collect nectar. We saw or heard no Red-billed Leiothrix. Driving back towards the Kahului airport on the last day, we dropped by Kealia Pond. The shorebirds had all left, and the Hawaiian Stilts had begun nesting, but we were allowed to walk along the ponds which were not off-limits. The cheerful ranger at the Refuge headquarters said that if we were lucky we might see the three Hawaiian Coot chicks, now three weeks old, that sometimes hopped over the border from their nest to the pond closer to the headquarters building.We were lucky and met the family of two adults and two chicks, rather than three, that made cute chick noises. Hawaiian Stilts made not so cute noises as they chased each other around flying all over the area. The flying dark-headed duck with white on its wings may have been a Mallard.

A banded I'iwi in a Mamane Tree at Hosmer Grove, Maui, May 2003.

Photograph © by Satoko Lincoln

From our lunch table in Kaanapali, we were excited to see a pod (two adults and a cub) of very active Humpback Whales near Molokai, as we believed that they had all left Hawaii. Douglas Pratt’s new book was again indispensable, and I would like to thank him for writing it and you for mentioning it on your website. For reasons we do not understand, finding it in Honolulu took some effort. We finally found it at Waldens Bookstore just before leaving for Maui.

As far as the banded I'iwi goes, Satoko says: "Gus Bodner of UH led me to Bird Banding Laboratory website, where the data shows that during 1955-2002, of the 7,493 I'iwi banded, 1 was encountered."

Satoko Lincoln, Hawai'i, May 2003

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