WHERE
TO WATCH BIRDS IN HAWAI'I -WHERE
TO WATCH BIRDS IN HAWAI'I -
KAUA'I
Kaua'i is the most Western of the Main Islands (excluding the "inaccessible" Ni'ihau) and geologically the oldest. Kilauea Point and Moku'ae'ae Island are the Northern-most points in the main Islands. The Island is dominated by the mountains in the center of the island, extending from Mount Wai'ale'ale and Mount Kawaikini in the East to the Na Pali of the West Coast. Mount Wai'ale'ale is often quoted as being the "wettest spot on Earth" - with rainfall in excess of 450 inches a year.
The North Side of Kaua'i has low-level cliffs and bays with white sand beaches and
relatively flat, low-level hillside. The weather here can often be wet, but it certainly also has its share of
the sun. the East of Kaua'i is generally low-level, characterised by rolling hills planted in sugar cane and also
with bays and long sand beaches. The South Side of Kaua'i is again mostly low-level agricultural land, but with
the high sun quota, clean beaches and safe swimming means that it is the hub of tourism on the Island. The West
Side is characterised by a wide and long flat area known as the Mana Plain. "Endless" beaches and fine
weather make this a popular spot for visitors, although the ocean here can be a little unpredictable.
At the very Western extreme of Kaua'i is the Na Pali Coast, starting at Polihale in the South and stretching North to Ha'ena, these high coastal cliffs form a barrier between the North and South Shores, meaning that the island is not connected by a road all the way around.
At the center of Kaua'i is the Alakai Swamp. The Alakai Swamp is not a true swamp, rather a high elevation bog, but it contains many species of interest and is a unique environment. The swamp is only reachable by foot, but it is a long hike from Koke'e over hard terrain, and as camping is not permitted, it is a sight most people will only see by helicopter.
Waimea Canyon, described by Mark Twain as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, cuts into
Kaua'i from the South West side. Magnificent views can be obtained from the Canyon road up to Kokee State Park
- the home of Kauai's endemic forest birds.
There are many ponds and reservoirs on Kaua'i which support endemic waterbirds (Hawaiian
Stilt, Hawaiian Coot, Hawaiian Moorhen and Hawaiian Duck) as well as being a magnet for migrant species, such as Ducks, Shorebirds, Gulls and Terns. Unfortunately
many of these wetland areas are on private property or are just not accessible to birders. There are however several
sites that provide great habitat for these species and easy access for birders, such as Hanalei National Wildlife
Refuge, Kaua'i Lagoons, Huleia NWR and Kawai'ele Sanctuary.
Lowland forests on the island are, as the other islands, heavily degraded and provide home only to the introduced species, although one of these, the Greater-Necklaced Laughing-Thrush, can only be seen in Hawai'i on Kaua'i.
Upland forests are the home to Kauai's endemic forest species
and eight species can still be seen in the forests of Koke'e and the Alakai Swamp, the second highest total of
all the islands (Hawai'i is first with 10 species). A day birding in the Alakai Swamp area is an unforgettable
experience and is usually the highlight of any trip to Kaua'i.
The eight endemic Hawaiian species which can be seen are: 'Apapane, Kaua'i 'Amakihi, Kaua'i 'Elepaio, 'I'iwi, 'Akekee, 'Anianiau, Puaiohi and 'Akikiki. The endemic race of Short-eared Owl, the Pueo, can also be seen in these areas. Anianiau by Jim Denny.
Kaua'i does not have as wide a range of introduced lowland birds, such as Estrildid Finches, as do some of the other islands, but it still has some species that are either not present on the other islands or are easier to observe. Western Meadowlark occurs only on Kaua'i in Hawai'i and can easily be seen in lowland fields and wetlands around much of the Island. Japanese Quail are far easier to see on Kaua'i than any of the other islands that it occurs on, and species such as Melodious Laughing-Thrush, White-rumped Shama and Japanese Bush-Warbler often afford views seldom obtained on the neighboring Islands.
The following sites are dealt with below:
1). Ke'e Beach and Ha'ena Point
2). Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge
3). Kilauea Point National Wildlife refuge
4). Wailua Reservoir and Keahua Arboretum
5). Nawiliwili Harbor and Ninini Point
10). Major's Bay and Kinikini Ditch
11). Kawaiele State Waterbird Sanctuary
12). Waimea Canyon and Koke'e State Park
|
1). KE'E BEACH and HA'ENA POINT. Open Access All Year. No Fees. This is also probably the last site that Red-billed Leiothrix were seen on Kauai.
Best Time To Visit: Spring and Fall. |
2). HANALEI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, HANALEI. Restricted Access. Open All
Year. No Fees. View from Roads & Overlooks.Link: Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge Link: Directions to Refuge Link: U.S. FWS Refuge checklists Link: Hanalei Heritage River Link: Hawai'i's Birding Hotspots - Hanalei NWR Located on the North Shore of Kaua'i between Princeville and Hanalei Town on the South side of the Hanalei River, this is one of Hawai'i's best birding locations. Although most of the refuge is closed to the public there is ample opportunity to observe all four endemic waterbirds as well as migrants and introduced species. The restricted access on the refuge is designed to prevent unnecessary disturbance to the birds and to reduce the risk of damage or destruction to nests and eggs, many of which are present on the short grassy dykes. Violators may receive a citation and be fined, so for the bird's sake it is appreciated that visitors adhere to the posted signs.  Hawaiian Coot, Hawaiian Moorhen, Hawaiian Duck and
Hawaiian Stilt are all easily seen amongst the Taro
Lo'i (ponds) and the FWS ponds. The indigenous Black-crowned Night Heron (right) is commonly seen and is often present in large numbers as are
the ever present introduced Cattle Egrets.Other introduced species that are common on the refuge include Chestnut Munia and Nutmeg Mannikins, Western Meadowlark, White-rumped Shama, Ring-necked Pheasant, Hwamei, Japanese Bush -Warbler, Northern and Red-crested Cardinals, House Finch and Japanese Whiteeye among others. Occasionally one of the less common introduced species will pay the refuge a visit, such as Japanese Quail (keep a look out on newly mowed dykes, although be sure to eliminate young Meadowlarks) and Greater-necklaced Laughing-Thrush (try the very end of Ohiki Road). Many species of migrant and vagrant birds have been recorded at Hanalei. Several large wading species have been seen including Great Blue Heron and White-faced Ibis, the former species was recorded several years running in the late 1980's and early 1990's and it was hoped it might become a regular winter visitor, but there have been no recent sightings and recently a flock of ten White-faced Ibis arrived in the early autumn of 2003 - the largest flock ever recorded in the Hawaiian Islands. Seabirds are often recorded flying over the refuge such as White-tailed Tropicbird, Newell's Shearwater and Hawaiian Petrel - all species which fly inland over the refuge to reach their nest sites, look for them between April and October, although Tropicbirds may be encountered at any time of the year.  Great Frigatebirds are a common "pass-over" species, usually in ones or twos but occasionally in small groups.
Spring and Fall are the peak times for movements as birds move between their nesting grounds and their wintering
areas. Birds are frequently seen swooping down to take a drink from the refuge ponds. Laysan
Albatross are sometimes seen soaring over the refuge and very rarely one will actually
land on the dykes between the ponds or taro. Left: Hawaiian Stilt.As would be expected the refuge has a long list of migrant Ducks, shorebirds and Gulls/Terns. Fall and Spring are the peak times for these species, although winter is also excellent for Ducks and Geese, as well as late migrant or over-wintering shorebirds. Pied-billed Grebe has been recorded on several occasions and has given hope that this species may try to nest at Hanalei, as it has at Aimakapa Pond, Hawai'i. However, so far there is no evidence that there has been more than one bird present at a time, although individuals have stayed for long periods (several months). The pond by the parking lot appears to be a particularly favored spot. Ducks and Geese: Regular species which winter at Hanalei or migrate through include Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck and Lesser Scaup. Canada Goose is the most regularly occurring Goose species but White-fronted, Snow and Brant have all been seen.  Scarcer and rarer Ducks
have included Canvasback, Greater Scaup, Tufted Duck, Cinnamon Teal, Garganey, Mallard, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Merganser, Bufflehead and Hawai'i's only record of Baikal Teal (in 2002-2003).Most of the wildfowl which turns up on the refuge does so in the ponds at the very Western end of the refuge (especially SW) and are therefore rather distant to view. The best way to see these birds is to look with a telescope from the overlook opposite Princeville shopping center. Alternatively, walk along the road from the overlook Westwards and try to look from opposite the police station, this gives a much clearer and closer view, although a telescope is still essential.The pond along Ohiki Road, next to the parking lot, also sometimes has migrant ducks (especially Aythya species) but is best viewed early or late in the day when there is less disturbance. Ohiki Road is accessed just over Hanalei Bridge, on the South side.  Shorebirds are most often seen in the Taro Lo'i, where the shallow water and soft, invertebrate-rich mud provides
an ideal foraging habitat. Again these are best viewed from the overlook, but sometimes shorebirds can be seen
from Ohiki Road or on the main highway running to the North of the refuge.Pacific Golden Plover and Wandering Tattler are the most regularly occurring species, with Plover numbers during the Spring sometimes totalling over 500 birds. Tattlers usually do not exceed about 15 individuals. Both species are most prevalent during Spring and Winter, but can be seen in small numbers all year round.  Ruddy Turnstone and Sanderling are recorded annually
but are surprisingly scarce and do not stay for long at Hanalei. Lesser Yellowlegs,
Pectoral Sandpiper (above
right), Common and Wilson's
Snipe and Long-billed Dowitcher
are recorded frequently and can be expected most years, in any month but especially during the Fall and Winter.
The number of rarer species recorded here goes on and on but has recently included Short-billed
Dowitcher, Sharp-tailed, Western, Least and Spotted Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plover, Red and
Wilson's Phalaropes, Greater Yellowlegs and Black-bellied Plover. Bristle-thighed Curlew have also occurred infrequently.As all the water on the refuge is freshwater it does not have the same attraction for Gulls and Terns as do locations such as James Campbell NWR (O'ahu) or Kealia Pond NWR (Maui) and so those species which do occur are usually only present for a short time or simply pass straight through. Glaucous-winged, Laughing, Franklin's and Bonaparte's Gulls and Arctic and Common Tern have all been recorded. At least three species of migrant raptor have shown up at Hanalei, although as would be expected all are very irregular in their occurrence - Peregrine Falcon, Osprey and Northern Harrier.  Barn Owl (right) and Pueo (Hawaiian Owl) are recorded on a daily basis. There are three trails which start at Hanalei NWR. The first is a short 5-minute walk to a Heiau which overlooks the pond and a few Taro Lo'i by the parking lot, where the trail also begins. The second trail is just to the North of the 1st trail (between the 1st trail and the cemetery) and this climbs the ridge which runs along the South side of the refuge, and although the path is steep it is well worth it for the views over the refuge and across to Hanalei Bay. With a telescope it is a good spot for observing ponds at the west end of the refuge. The final trail is at the very end of Ohiki Road and the trail continues up into the mountains, although there are usually few birds of note to make the trek worthwhile. Park sensibly at this site.  In February 2000 24 Nene were released at Hanalei NWR as part of their re-introduction
to Kaua'i and 23 birds were still present in January 2001. The birds can be seen in any area of the refuge, but
are frequently seen along the dykes in the Taro and in ponds with fresh sedge seeds. They are also very prominent
in the evening, when small groups may fly around noisily before roosting for the night.The endemic Hawaiian Hoary Bat is often seen hunting over the refuge ponds, the one by the parking lot seems to be a regularly used location. Best Time To Visit: All Year, especially Spring, Fall and Winter. |
3). KILAUEA POINT NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Open All Year. Open daily
from 10am to 5pm.Closed on some Public Holidays, inc. Christmas and New Years day. $3 per person entrance fee, some concessions. Office telephone: 1 808 828 1413 Visitor Center: 1 808 828 0168 (for hike etc) Link: Kilauea Point Natural History Association Link: Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge Link: Directions to Refuge Link: U.S. FWS Refuge checklists Link: Hawai'i's Birding Hotspots - Kilauea Point NWR Kilauea Pt. NWR expansion: http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2004/12/06/daily32.html Kilauea Point is a must for all birders visiting Kaua'i. The Point and the offshore Mokuaeae Island are the Northernmost points in the Main Hawaiian Islands. The Point itself and Crater Hill to the East are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Island is managed by the State. The refuge currently encompasses 300 acres, but is set to expand eastwards in the next few years to encompass the Kilauea River Estuary as well as additional coastline. Located on the North Shore of Kauai, drive through Kilauea Town and follow Lighthouse road to its end where there is a turnaround and the Refuge entrance. Kilauea provides important nesting habitat for Seabirds and Nene. Laysan Albatross nest on the refuge and usually number about 100 birds and can easily be seen soaring around the Point or more distantly sitting on their nests. Young Albatross can be seen waiting for their parents from around late January onwards. Occasionally a Black-footed Albatross will check out the point as well, but usually do not stay long and are more frequently (though rarely) seen passing by offshore. Albatross are present from mid-November until mid- June and July. Great Frigatebirds are usually present all year at Kilauea, but peak during the late summer, when birds leave the North West Chain after nesting. In the evenings especially, Frigatebirds chase Red-footed Boobies returning from fishing trips in the hope of stealing an easy meal, and these chases can often be fascinating. Although up to 450 birds have been recorded at Kilauea in a single roost, there is no evidence so far of nesting.  Red-footed Boobies (left) are probably the most visible species on the refuge, their bright white plumage contrasting
with the dark cliff face. Up to 4000 birds nest at Kilauea, making it the largest colony in Hawai'i. During the
day there are far fewer birds about, but in the evening large parties return from sea. Boobies can be seen all
year round, but are particularly prominent from January through September. Brown and Brown and White forms are
present here alongside the White forms (the white form is the most numerous in Hawaii).Brown Boobies are less common at Kilauea, being more frequent on the South Shores of Kauai, but up to 30 or 40 birds can sometimes be seen roosting, although smaller numbers are usually seen, particularly during the main part of the main. Breeding is suspected on Mokuaeae island but has not been confirmed. Brown Boobies will often join in the chasing of Red-footed Boobies with Frigatebirds and snatch any food which escapes the Frigates  or which lands in the water.Hawaiian Petrels (right) do not breed at Kilauea Point, they nest in the interior mountains, but birds pass over Kilauea in the evening just before dark and can be seen from the overlook, heading inland. Occasionally birds will pass by at sea at low-level or during the afternoon when the refuge is open. Present late April/early May through mid-October/November.  Wedge-tailed Shearwater (left) is the predominant Shearwater species in Hawai'i and large numbers nest at Kilauea Point. The common light phase and the scarcer dark phase can be seen from late March and early April when they return from sea to nest in burrows or under bushes. By late November nearly all the young have fledged and the colony remains silent. Most birds remain at sea fro the day and return after dark, but birds can often be seen flying around earlier in the evening, especially during the Spring when birds first return to the nesting colony. During the summer young downy birds in all stages of growth can be seen along the footpath and under vegetation in the refuge and often provide great photo opportunities, as they are only a few feet away. Newell's Shearwater is an endemic species found only on Kaua'i and probably O'ahu. It nests in the high mountains, but a couple of pairs were introduced to Kilauea Point in the hope of providing an extra population in a different habitat. Birds are still returning to Kilauea, though the numbers have not increased, and nest and lay eggs but so far none has hatched successfully. The birds return after dark, and so unlike the Wedge-tailed Shearwater, is seldom seen at Kilauea, however birds can sometimes be seen and are easily heard from the overlook at the refuge entrance from about 9pm onwards during the summer months. Newell's Shearwater returns later and leaves earlier than the Wedge-tails, being mostly recorded from around the end of April through the end of September. Birds can also be seen sometimes flying high over the refuge towards their (more usual) nesting habitat in the mountains.  Red-tailed (right) and White-tailed
Tropicbirds can be observed easily at Kilauea Point and is the easiest place to
see red-tails in all the Main Islands. Red-tails perform aerial acrobatics during courtship flights and these are
often carried out just a few yards from visitors, mainly at the very end of the Point. Birds nest in closed areas
of the refuge and are present from late January through October, but are only rarely seen outside these months.
During the summer it is often possible to see birds on nests or growing chicks on cliff ledges, try looking in
the cove opposite the Visitor center or on Mokuaeae Island. The White-tailed Tropicbird is present all year round,
though is perhaps more numerous during the summer months. It also nests at Kilauea, but unlike the red-tails which
nest on open ground, White-tails nest in cliff crevices, and this makes the nests hard to spot, usually the only
sign of a nest is the adults coming and going from a crack in the cliff face. White-tails often fly higher than
Red-tails and do not perform such an elaborate display and can therefore sometimes go unnoticed. A third species, the Red-billed Tropicbird is an exceptionally rare vagrant to Hawai'i, but a bird turned up with Red-tails at Kilauea in 1998 and returned for several years running. All three species could sometimes be seen together - a truly unique sighting, as the three species do not usually cross paths.  Nene (left) is the State bird of Hawai'i and a flourishing flock exists at Kilauea Point, and numbers
over 100 birds. Adults with young can often be seen around the refuge between November and April and during the
non-breeding months large gatherings can be seen at the lighthouse in the evenings, with up to 90 birds being present.The refuge has a small book store and interpretive center where visitors can purchase books, postcards and shirts and learn a little about Hawaiian ecology. A guided hike onto Crater Hill ( the hill to the East of the Lighthouse) is conducted by refuge volunteers and is well worth it. The hike takes about two hours round-trip and provides superb views of the Point, the Crater and the North of Kauai. there is currently no charge for the hike but visitors must make reservations in advance (telephone: 1808 828 0168), although there may be spaces on the day, but it is a very popular hike, so it is best to book in advance to avoid disappointment. Boobies, Frigatebirds and Albatross can all be seen from the hike, as well as a few close-up Tropicbirds. It is also best to call the refuge just to ensure that a hike is being led on the day as sometimes the hikes are suspended or do not take place.  Humpback Whales (right), Spinner
Dolphins, Green Sea Turtles
and Hawaiian Monk Seals
can often be seen from Kilauea Point too. Whale season is from mid-November through
April. The other species can be seen at any time of the year.Other seabirds such as Masked Booby (check Mokuaeae Island) and Sooty Terns are frequently seen, and migrants and vagrants have included Glaucous Gull (vagrant), Kermadec Petrel (vagrant), Pomarine Jaeger (scarce migrant) and Sooty Shearwater (migrant), but any seabird could be expected to pass by. Kilauea Point must also be the easiest place in Hawai'i to see the introduced Hwamei, or Melodious Laughing-Thrush, where birds often sing in full view right in the parking lot.  Unusual migrant and vagrant seabirds
are often attracted to Kilauea Point and will often take up temporary residence with the more regularly occurring
species. Migrants and vagrants have included Black-footed Albatross, Sooty and Short-tailed Shearwaters, Storm
Petrels, Kermadec Petrel, Glaucous, Glaucous-winged and Ring-billed Gulls, Gray-backed Tern, White Tern and Red-billed
Tropicbird. The Red-billed Tropicbird pictured to
the left appeared in 1998 and returned for the next three consecutive years with the Red-tailed Tropicbirds, with
which it would often display and even attempt to mate. Spring and Fall are the best times to look for out-of -range
seabirds.Best Time To Visit: All Year, especially early Spring. |
| 4). WAILUA RESERVOIR and KEAHUA ARBORETUM Open All Year. No Entrance Fee.  Located on the East side of Kauai,
Wailua Reservoir and the Arboretum are reached by turning inland just North of Wailua Bridge on Rout 56, follow
Kuomoo Road (route 580) up past Opaekaa Falls (look for White-tailed Tropicbirds) through Wailua Homesteads
until you reach the 4 mile marker post, which is just before an agricultural field station on the right hand side.
A little past this there is a small parking lot on the right and the reservoir is just past the gate.Wailua Reservoir holds good numbers of Hawaiian Coot and Hawaiian Ducks are usually present in the evenings. Migrant Ducks turn up here with some regularity and have included Ring-necked Duck, Lesser and Greater Scaup and Mallard, although as it is a deep reservoir Aythya-type Ducks are more likely than dabbling ducks (Anas). Shorebirds are usually rather scarce but include Pacific-golden Plover and Wandering Tattler, and when the water level falls, Hawaiian Stilt may be present. Japanese Bush-Warblers are very vocal here and a lot easier to see than most sites. The scenery here is breathtaking and worth a look even if the reservoir has nothing on it. Best Time To Visit: Winter Keahua Forestry Arboretum is found by continuing past the reservoir for a further couple of miles, the road has recently been paved and so the once rather bumpy and pot-holed journey is now a nice smooth ride. At the entrance to the arboretum there is a parking lot on one side of a small ford and another parking lot on the other side. it is ok to cross the stream in dry conditions (if you can see the edge stones on the crossing), but if the water is high it is best to park your car on the nearside parking lot. After the stream crossing the road worsens and it is not advisable to continue unless you have 4-wheel drive. There are numerous footpaths leading off from this area, some are short and some are very long (such as the Powerline trail which continues for 9 miles and brings one out on the North Shore near princeville). The number of species is quite small here but is a regular site for the elusive Great-necklaced Laughing-Thrush, an introduced Asian species. Japanese Bush-Warblers are usually extremely easy to see here, especially at the first turn on the track on the first hill, where they can be seen singing and calling from exposed branches. Pueo or Hawaiian Short-eared owl are regularly seen hunting here and there is a good selection of the commoner introduced species. A small pond just over the other hill from the parking lot (viewed from a picnic table) sometimes has Koloa on it. The arboretum can get very busy at weekends and on holidays, both with locals and visitors (as well as dirt-bikers) and at these times very few birds are usually showing. Best Time To Visit: Spring |
|
5). NAWILIWILI HARBOR/NININI POINT Open All Year. No Entrance Fee.
Most of the birds offshore will be Wedge-tailed Shearwaters and Red-footed Boobies, but large gatherings of Newell's Shearwaters and smaller groups of Hawaiian Petrels can also be seen. Brown Boobies (below) are regularly seen as are Sooty Terns, Black and Brown Noddies, Laysan and Black-footed Albatross and less frequently Tropicbirds and Frigatebirds. Groups of 100 or more Newell's Shearwaters and 50+ Hawaiian Petrels have been recorded as well as many other migrant seabirds. Sooty Shearwater is regular in the Spring, usually in small numbers but over 500 were recorded in one evening in 1999. Other migrants and vagrant seabirds recorded here have included Masked Booby, Mottled Petrel, Short-tailed Shearwater, Ring-billed and Laughing Gulls, Grey-backed Tern, Common Tern and White Tern.
Barn Owls regularly hunt the nearby airfield and often fly low over the Point whilst searching for prey, such as mice and rats. Short-eared Owls (or Pueo) are less regular at the Point but are seen occasionally when they stray from the airfield. Many introduced species are seen along the track that runs alongside the airfield to the lighthouse, details of these species can be found in the next account on Kaua'i Lagoons Golf Course below. Best Time To Visit: Spring through Fall |
| 6). KAUA'I
LAGOONS Open All Year. No Entrance Fee. Access on foot from Marriot Hotel.  Kaua'i Lagoons is adjacent to
Nawiliwili Harbor and lies between Kalapaki Bay and Lihue Airfield. It encompasses a golf course (no access to
general public, unless playing golf) and a large lake. It is best reached through the Marriot Hotel grounds near
Kalapaki Bay, where there is ample parking in the grounds.The lake has a good population of Hawaiian Coots and several Hawaiian Moorhen as well as a few "exotics" that managed to elude capture when a zoo that was situated at the site closed down. The lake and golf course fairway on the North side is a good spot to look for migrant Gulls and Terns. Ring-billed (below) and Laughing Gulls are regular and rarities have included Caspian and Common Terns.  The Golf Course itself has approachable
Night Herons, Pacific golden Plovers
and Wandering Tattler as well as the usual array of
introduced species. at the NorthEast end of the golf course lies Lihue Airport Runway (which ends just yards from
Nawiliwili Lighthouse). The runway and adjoining parts of the golf course and scrub are popular with the introduced
species: Cattle Egrets,
Ring-necked Pheasants,
Chestnut Munia and Nutmeg Mannikins, Western Meadowlark, Northern Mockingbird, Northern and Red-crested
Cardinals, White-rumped Shama,
House Finch, Java
Sparrow, Common Myna, Spotted and Zebra Doves,
Hwamei, House Sparrow
and Japanese Whiteeye
are numerous here. Hawaiian Short-eared Owls regularly
hunt the runway and golf course edge, and Barn Owls
are frequently seen sitting on fence posts towards the Airport terminal.Nene can easily be seen around the lake, on the golf course and even on the runway. Occasionally there will be something of interest on the runway, such as a flock of Hawaiian Stilts (!!). Peregrine Falcon and Bristle-thighed Curlews have also been recorded occasionally. Best Time To Visit: Fall and Winter |
| 7). PO'IPU
AREA Open All Year, although much of area is private. No Entrance Fee.  Poipu on the South side of Kauai
is not exactly a bird hotspot!! Largely confined to sugar cane fields, rough land and tourist hotels, the area
has little on the surface to attract birders, however there are areas here where there are birding opportunities
and perhaps if more birders visited the area more species would be found.There are several reservoirs in the area and although most are out of view, there are a couple that can be seen from the road or public rights of way. Mauka reservoir is the easiest to find and can be viewed from the "Tunnel of Trees" - an avenue of Eucolyptus Trees, signed highway 520, which runs from highway 56 down to Koloa and Poipu. The reservoir lies on the West side of the road where there are a couple of small pullouts to stop, don't stop on the highway. A short walk back along the road to view the reservoir will reveal Hawaiian Coot, Hawaiian Moorhen and occasionally Hawaiian Stilt and Koloa fly down in the evenings. In the winter however there are often migrant Ducks present such as Ring-necked Ducks and Lesser Scaup, as well as occasional Northern Pintail and Northern Shoveler. Rarities such as Goldeneye have been recorded here too.  Other reservoirs in the area hold
a similar array of species, but access to these other sites changes constantly, with some being open to access
one year and closed the next. A local map will show the area well and birders interested in trying to visit accessible
lakes and reservoirs should check on current access arrangements on site or with the land owners. Some sites have
high fences and no trespassing signs, whereas others have no signs or fences.Waita Reservoir (pictured left) is the largest reservoir on the island and was once semi-open to birders and anglers but in recent years has been closed. No trespassing signs should be adhered to, as some reservoirs/ponds have guards. As the Sugar Cane industry shrinks in Hawai'i one of two things will happen with access to lakes and reservoirs - either the land will be bought up and access will be hard to gain as new landowners and developers will want to keep areas private or land will be opened up for the benefit of all islanders and visitors and access will be made easier. Near the tourist hotels there are golf courses, well manicured lawns and ornamental ponds. these are worth checking for migrant shorebirds and Gulls, as well resident Night Herons and the common migrant Pacific golden Plover. Scrubby areas nearby will hold most of the introduced species commonly seen elsewhere but is also home to Red Avadavat, African Silverbill and possibly Waxbills, although the last species has not yet been confirmed fully. These species are usually found in mixed flocks with Chestnut Munia and Nutmeg Mannikins, but can be very elusive as they feed amongst the sugar cane and along drainage ditches. Any site which has a water supply for the birds to drink from is worth checking. Ring-necked Parakeets are regularly found here, particularly towards the old Koloa Sugar Mill. A few Mourning Doves have also started to appear to the East of the main hotel area in recent years and are always worth keeping an eye out for.  The beaches at Poipu hold little
attraction to birds and are usually crowded with sunbathing tourists, but Brown Booby and Red-footed Booby can be seen offshore,
as well as migrant seabirds and Wedge-tailed
Shearwaters. White terns have been reported in the past and the small headlands,
such as Makahuena Point, sometimes turn up interesting seabirds such as Bulwer's
Petrel and Sooty Shearwater.Hawaiian Monk Seals are often found loafing on the beaches at poipu too. Best Time To Visit: All Year, especially Fall and Winter |
| 8).
PORT ALLEN AREA Open Access All Year. No Entrance Fee.  To reach Port Allen turn South
off highway 50 to the harbor (it is sign posted) just before Ele'ele at the shopping center. For Hanapepe Salt
Pond continue through Hanapepe Town on route 50 and turn South just after the town, it is also signposted, and
a loop road goes past the bay/harbor and the airstrip and continues to the Saltpond, it then comes back through
some scrub and returns you to just opposite the harbor.Port Allen and the nearby Hanapepe Salt Pond are regular sites to look for Gulls and migrant Shorebirds. The Harbor at Port Allen is unremarkable, consisting of warehouses and stone harbor arms, and usually holds little more than a couple of Brown Boobies, but the regular fishing boats and tourist craft attract their fare share of Gulls. Laughing, Glaucous-winged, Glaucous and Ring-billed Gulls have all been recorded in recent years.  Hanapepe Salt Pond
(above right) has recorded its share of migrants too, but is dependent on heavy rainfall to wet them enough to
produce standing water. Glaucous-winged Gull (right), Great Blue Heron, Semipalmated Plover
and Red Phalarope are
amongst the best birds recorded here. As the weather is usually so dry on this side of the Island the pools are
often completely dry and hold little more than a couple of Hawaiian Stilts and a few Pacific golden Plovers.The grassy areas around the South side of the small airstrip here look good for migrant Bristle-thighed Curlews, but they have only been recorded a few times. Seawatching from the point here is likely to produce many of the same species seen elsewhere on the island.  Not far from Hanapepe on the main
Highway 50 to the East of the town is the Hanapepe Overlook and Valley (pictured). Although it is not a prime birding location, it is one of the best sites to look for
Ring-necked Parakeets on the Island. Birds can often
be observed flying over or along the valley, especially in the morning or evening, when birds are flying to or
from their roosts. As would be expected the other species seen here are the same as would be seen at many other
similar localities on Kaua'i, such as White-tailed Tropicbirds,
Cattle Egrets, Night
Herons, introduced Doves
(including sometimes Feral Rock Dove), Sparrows (including hundreds of Java Sparrows), Finches, Mockingbirds, Mannikins and Black Francolin. It is also quite
likely that the indigenous Band-rumped Storm Petrel
nests high in the valley walls further inland, as a few immature birds have been found stranded here in the past,
however it is best to keep in mind that the nest of this species has never been found in Hawai'i and adults are
usually only seen at sea.Best Time To Visit: Fall and Winter |
| 9). POLIHALE
AREA Open Access All Year. No Entrance Fee.  Polihale is located at the very
far West of Kaua'i and is reached by continuing on route 50 past Waimea and Kekaha and past the Pacific Missile
Range Facility, until the road ends. To the west of the "proper" road a bumpy track (signposted) carries
on to Polihale. This road is very bumpy and if in a normal rental car should be driven slowly, as the potholes
seem to be spaced for maximum discomfort! The road ends at a beach park with basic facilities and the start of
the Na Pali Coastline. Swimming is dangerous here due to rip currents but the Queens Pond is protected by a reef
and so is a little safer, see guide books for directions, Bristle-thighed Curlew has been seen here before.Black Noddies are frequently seen here as they nest just around the corner on the sea cliffs. The sugar cane fields here have Barn Owl and Pueo, the ditches have Hawaiian Moorhen, Hawaiian Duck, Night Herons and Cattle Egrets, along with many introduced species. African Silverbill has been recorded here fairly regularly, as well as further East towards Kekaha.  Black Francolin, Erckel's Francolin
and Chukar are also found
here, the first two being fairly easy to spot, Chukar on the other hand seems very local and appears to have only
a small population. Ring-necked Parakeets have been
observed here, as well as near Kekaha and Waimea.The area has not been extensively watched for seabirds, but Laysan Albatross and Black-footed Albatross, Masked, Brown and Red-footed Booby, Shearwaters and Petrels and several Gull species have been recorded, and it is therefore likely that further observations would reveal a greater diversity of species (especially migrants) than is currently known of. Best Time To Visit: All Year, particularly Fall |
|
10). MAJOR'S BAY and KINIKINI DITCH Restricted Access. No Fee.
ALL visitors at the gate must sign in at the office and provide a Driving Licence, Insurance for the vehicle they are driving and in some cases their Passport. Entrance to the site will not be allowed if these documents cannot be provided. On-site directions will be issued at the gate for Major's Bay and Kinikini Ditch - follow these instructions and do not stray from the road under any circumstance. Once at the Major's Bay parking lot, park your vehicle in the parking area and walk west along the beach past several military housing areas for about one-third of a mile (walking on sand all the way), until you reach Kinikini Ditch, a small, but fast stream flowing into the sea over a small reef. Access to the west side of the stream is only available at certain times due to low-flying military aircraft - ask about the access restrictions for the day you are visiting, access may be allowed or you may end up getting escorted from the site by military personnel. At certain times, when restrictions allow, there is a small parking lot right near the ditch and this saves the walk along the beach. Remember however to ask about access to this parking lot - again you could end up being escorted off the Base!
Above Left: Brants on Kinikini Reef, Major's Bay, Kaua'i, winter 1999. Seabirds are easily seen offshore and include Brown Boobies, Red-footed Boobies, Laysan Albatross, White-tailed Tropicbird and Wedge-tailed Shearwater, which nest nearby. Black-footed Albatross, Newell's Shearwater and Hawaiian Petrel have also been observed regularly, but tend to be seen late in the day, when access is usually finished fo the day.Laysan Albatrosses nest on nearby grassy fields and on the airfield runways and can often be seen flying low across the area. they are also visible from outside the Base. Occasionally an injured or tired seabird will land on the reef or swim in the stream. Night Herons are usually present either on the reef or along the stream. In the scrubby areas along the beach introduced species can be seen quite easily and include Northern Mockingbird, House Finch, House Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-crested Cardinal, Nutmeg Mannikin and Chestnut Munia, Black Francolin, White-rumped Shama, Cattle Egret, Japanese Whiteeye, Common Myna, Zebra Dove, Spotted Dove and Java Sparrow. Short-eared Owls are seen occasionally quartering the airfield or along the beach.
|
12). WAIMEA CANYON, ALAKA'I SWAMP and KOKE'E STATE PARK Open
Access All Year. No Entrance Fee.Camping in some areas, by permit only. Information Center, Museum & Restrooms. Kokee Natural History Museum Telephone No. 1 808 335 9975 Link: Koke'e Natural History Museum Link: Hawai'i's Birding Hotspots - Koke'e & The Alaka'i Swamp The "jewel in the crown" of Kaua'i birding. The last stronghold of several endemic species, it is possible, though not easy, to see all eight of the remaining (extant) forest birds of Kauai: Kaua'i 'Elepaio (above), Kaua'i 'Amakihi, 'Anianiau, Puaiohi, 'Akikiki, 'Apapane, I'iwi and Ake'ke'e. All these species have their remaining strongholds in the high mountainous regions of Koke'e and the Alaka'i Swamp.  Waimea Canyon - described by Mark
Twain as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific is a spectacular series of steep treacherous ravines interspersed with
waterfalls and high plateaus. 'Apapane, Kaua'i 'Amakihi and Kaua'i 'Elepaio can often be seen from
near the overlooks (above 1600 feet) and White-tailed Tropicbirds and Pueo float on thermals rising from
the canyon bottom. Francolins and
Chukars can sometimes be seen deep in the ravines,
and Erckel's Francolin can often be seen along the
side of the roads, especially early morning.Japanese Whiteeye are probably the most numerous bird at this elevation, but the forest holds White-rumped Shama, Hwamei and Japanese Bush-Warbler as well as the endemics listed already. Most birders do not spend that much time birding along the lower part of the canyon, as Koke'e and the Alakai Swamp are the best birding areas, where the endemics are more numerous and easier to see. Koke'e State Park is located on the highway past the Waimea Canyon overlooks and the Park headquarters are located on the left-hand side of the road and include the Koke'e Lodge restaurant and the Koke'e Natural History Museum. The large grassy field outside the Museum is home to hundreds of Red Junglefowl, the "original" chicken brought to Kauai by the Polynesians, and most birds present here are "pure" and "countable", many birds in the lowlands of Kaua'i are not quite of such pure stock. Nene are frequently seen on the meadow here or further up the road but can sometimes be elusive. Common 'Amakihi and 'Apapane are regularly observed in trees in this area too. Many trails lead off from around this area and most are worth having a quick look at as many of the endemics can be observed along them. If travelling in a 4-wheel drive vehicle it is well worth venturing along the tracks that lead off Eastwards from here, as many will get one further into the forested areas and approach the Alaka'i Swamp where it is possible to see all the extant endemics. Note however that the tracks can become very slippery with just a small amount of rain and even 4-wheel drive vehicles can become stuck. Check at the museum for the latest track and weather conditions, as well as the best areas to look for the endemic species at that time of year.  The Kalalau Valley Overlook is
a breathtaking vista of the valley and out to the ocean and is a good spot to look for White-tailed
Tropicbirds wheeling around below. Kaua'i 'Elepaio, Kaua'i 'Amakihi,
'Anianiau and 'Apapane are often present in the vegetation around the restrooms and are sometimes joined by Ake'ke'e and I'iwi. 'Apapane and
Kaua'i 'Amakihi are often seen just below the overlook
itself and can provide great photographic opportunities. Introduced White-rumped
Shama, Northern
and Red-crested Cardinals,
Hwamei, Japanese Whiteeye, House Finch, Common Myna and Spotted
and Zebra Doves are all easily seen anywhere in the vicinity.At the very end of the road to the North is the Pu'u 'o Kila Overlook and the start of the Pihea Ridge Trail, which eventually intersects with the Alaka'i Swamp Trail. White-tailed Tropicbirds are easy to see here as they fly low over the ridge to reach their nesting sites after spending time at sea fishing. Around the parking lot the trees and bushes have Kaua'i 'Elepaio, 'Apapane, Kaua'i 'Amakihi and 'Anianiau. NOTE: The road between the Kalalau Overlook and the Pu'u 'O Kila lookout was closed at the end of 2002 due to the worsening of the road surface and so to reach the start of the Pihea Trail and the Pu'u 'O Kila overlook a further half a mile walk is required from the Kalalau Overlook parking lot. The bushes and trees between the
start of the Pihea Ridge Trail and the area where it starts to descend into the forest holds Kaua'i
'Elepaio, 'Apapane, Kaua'i 'Amakihi, Ake'ke'e
and 'Anianiau (right)- the first valley to the left
(walking North) usually holds the first four species and the trees along the path after about a mile are often
good for all five species. The same introduced species as listed above will be encountered frequently along the
Pihea Trail too. Right: © 'Anianiau by Jim Denny.The Alaka'i Swamp Trail intersects the Pihea Trail at a "crossroads" where the boardwalk can either be followed straight across and continued until it reaches the Kawaikoi Stream Trail or can be followed to the east where it descends a "staircase" and leads to the Kilohana Overlook, which provides great views down to Hanalei Bay and the North Shore. Hawaiian Petrels and Newell's Shearwaters can be heard calling here at night during April to September, but are hard to see as the area is often shrouded in mist during the nights and there is little light unless a full moon is present. Remember no overnight camping is permitted at this site.  Turning West at the intersection
will lead to the Mohihi Camp 10 road which in turn leads back to the Museum or ventures further into the Alaka'i
Swamp. It is recommended that visitors only follow the track to Mohihi if they are willing to walk a long way or
have a four-wheel drive vehicle left at the small parking area here. Anywhere along the boardwalked
trail from the Pihea Trail and the Alaka'i Swamp Trail should reveal all six of the "more regular" endemics
- Kaua'i 'Elepaio, Kaua'i 'Amakihi, I'iwi, 'Apapane, 'Anianiau
and Ake'ke'e, although their numbers and distribution will often depend on which flowering plants are available.
The last two extant Kauai endemics, the 'Akikiki (Kaua'i Creeper) and Puaiohi (Small Kaua'i
Thrush) are much more difficult to find but may be observed with patience and luck.
The area between the staircase on the Pihea Trail and the intersection with the Alaka'i Swamp Trail is a good place
to look for both species but especially good for 'Akikiki
(above), which may be seen quietly running up and down tree trunks in the manner
of a Nuthatch. The
Puaiohi (left) is a rather elusive and secretive species which tends to find you
rather than the other way around. It will fly into a nearby tree, observe you for a short time and then fly off
into the distance, not to be seen again! In the late 1990's a captive breeding program released several birds into
the area near the "crossroads" and birds can be found in this area and along the trail towards the Kilohana
Overlook. They have a fondness for stream gullies and any suitable area is worth checking. As with any of the species listed,
the further one can get into the forest the better the chance of seeing some or all of the endemics. Species which
were recorded as recently as the 1980's but which have not been recorded since and are most likely extinct include
Kamao (Large Kaua'i Thrush), O'u and Nukupuu - don't expect to see these birds, daily surveys in the 1990's failed
to reveal any individuals of any of the species. Of interest, the Alaka'i Swamp is not actually a swamp but a high
elevation bog, with little standing water. Koloa are
occasionally seen in the wetter parts of the Alaka'i Swamp and Peregrine Falcon and Golden Eagle (of unknown, but probably
wild origin) have been recorded here in the past. The latter species was present for several years in the 1980's
until its habit of dive-bombing tour helicopters finally became its downfall.A visit to Koke'e and the Alaka'i Swamp should not be missed under any circumstances, and most birders spend several days exploring the many trails looking for Kaua'i and Hawaiian endemics. Best Time To Visit: All Year |
Hawaiian Stilts nest here and usually three or four pairs are in residence,
occasionally more will nest and it is a regular stopover site for birds travelling to Ni'ihau to nest. Hawaiian Coot and Hawaiian Moorhen also both nest here in small numbers and can be seen swimming between the islands. Koloa do not usually nest here but are frequently
seen feeding here, although numbers are usually very low. All the birds here are quite wary and frequently disturbed
and so an early morning or evening visit is often more productive. Black-crowned Night
Herons and Cattle Egrets
are conspicuous on the pool and nest nearby. Usually several hundred Egrets can be observed
along the highway or at the fish farms.
Laughing (right) and Ring-billed Gulls are annual
and it is no surprise that other Gull species turn
up now and again.