ARTICLES ON HAWAIIAN BIRDS AND BIRDWATCHING AND OTHER PACIFIC WILDLIFE

Hawai'i Birding Hotspots No.10 - Kaneohe Marine Base, O'ahu

There is a sizeable colony of Red-footed Boobies at the NE extreme of the Point in Ulupau Head Crater and close views can be obtained, as well as views of Great Frigatebirds, which often harass the Boobies. Although nesting season is the best time to visit, birds are present all year, but ALL visits are dependent on being granted access to one of the Marine Base tours, which must be pre-booked well in advance. Remember visitors just turning up without a confirmed appointment will not be allowed onto the Base. Live ammunition is fired on the Marine Base and illegal entry may result in death or serious injury.

The offshore island is Moku Manu ("Bird Island") and is home to thousands of Sooty Terns as well as numbers of Brown Boobies, Brown Noddy (below), Gray-backed Tern (only breeding site in the Main Hawaiian Islands), Christmas Shearwater and a few Masked Boobies.

Black and Brown Noddies (left) also nest on the cliffs below Ulupau Head and can be seen below you whilst you view Moku Manu Island. Laysan Albatross are also seen most years but despite efforts to persuade them to stay, none have yet nested successfully.

At the entrance to the Marine Corps Base there is Nu'upia pond which has Stilts and Moorhen nesting and there are usually Black Noddies feeding over the ponds. This is also a good site to observe migrants and there have been records of rare shorebirds, Wildfowl, Gulls and Terns. The first Crested Tern for Hawai'i was recorded on the ponds and other recent rarities have included Bonaparte's Gull, Caspian Tern (below), Merlin, Great Blue Heron and Snowy Egret. Any species of Shorebird, Tern, Gull or Waterfowl could turn up here and so a visit to the ponds is worth it, even if one does not have access permission for the nearby Marine Base.

It is possible to view the East end of Nu'upia Ponds without entering the Base by observing from the Kane'ohe Bay Drive/H-3 on-off ramp and walking along the path to the H-3 gate. Full access details (2002): Near the H3 interchange with Kaneohe Bay Drive, there is a pedestrian walkway along the perimeter fence of the Kaneohe Marine Corps Base. There is a good view of the ponds from there. For parking: 1) Travelling west: On Kaneohe Bay Drive, right before the yellow curve sign, before the public pathway (to your front, on the right), in the grass off the shoulder of the road. This is just before the H3 on-ramp to KMCBH. 2) Travelling east: Pass under the H3 overpass to KMCBH and park on the shoulder just before the bus stop. There is a crosswalk leading to the public walkway.

Note that there are certain restrictions on the usage of video and still cameras in these areas.

Nearby in Kaneohe itself, especially near the golf course and along the bay edge, there are good places to look for Common and Orange - Cheeked Waxbills.

Useful information about Kane'ohe Marine Corps Base.

LOCATION		The base is on the end of the Mokapu Peninsula at Kane'ohe, on the eastern side of O'ahu.		Access is from the H3 Highway.
OPENING TIMES		Restricted access. Visits can only be arranged through the contact below. DO NOT simply arrive at the Base without a confirmed appointment as you will not be allowed to enter.		Although the end of the Mokapu Peninsula is closed to the public, it is possible to arrange to visit by contacting: The Commanding General/PAO (see below)
ENTRANCE FEE		No fees.
ACCESS		All access details should be confirmed at the address below before travelling.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION		Due to the sensitive nature of the site, it is possible that sometimes the base will be completely out of bounds and even pre-arranged trips may be subject to cancellation.		Video camera and still photography are restricted on the base. Enquire with officials before taking photographs or video footage.
Marine Corps Base Contact Official		Commanding General/PAO		Marine Corps Base Hawaii Box 63002 MCBH Kaneohe, HI 96863-3002 808-257-8839 (Phone) 808-257-2511 (Fax)
BIRD SPECIES OBSERVED		At least 125 species (approximate), including those seen at Nu'upia Ponds.		c.50 species recorded annually, c. 33 breeding annually.
MARINE ANIMALS OBSERVED		At least 12 species (excluding fish species)		Humpback Whale, Spinner Dolphin, Green sea Turtle and Hawaiian Monk Seal recorded.
USEFUL READING		Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific by H.D. Pratt et al. Seabirds of Hawaii by Craig Harrison
LINKS		Where to Watch Birds in Hawai'i

Christian Melgar. Worthing, West Sussex, UK. 2002.

---