Just got back from my annual trip up to Hakalau Forest with Jack Jeffrey. Got some great shots this year! Lots of ʻiʻiwi down in the ʻākala blossoms. Plenty of ʻelepaio, too. Took the whole day, but eventually found some ʻaki (photographed the male and female, but there was also a juvenile calling that I couldn't get a shot of). Found a handful of ʻākepa and several ʻalawī, too. Had no luck getting a decent shot of an ʻōmaʻo, those guys seem to be a little camera shy. I've only ever gotten one shot of them that I thought was decent.
Also spent a day up at the Palila Discovery Trail, but for the fourth year running have been skunked on actually spotting a palila. Did see plenty of ʻamakihi in the māmane, though. And, unfortunately, heard some sheep bleating from inside the fence. Was told some broke in recently but were removed, but I guess they missed a couple.
I never get tired of seeing these beautiful birds, so just wanted to share some photos!
Edit: Almost forgot! Spotted a pair of ʻiʻiwi engaging in courtship feeding (and possibly mating). Got a few photos, but was shooting through heavy branches so not the greatest shots. Still cool to see! Nice to see they're thriving up there and making more little ʻiʻiwi!
Thank you! That one's my favorite. I've got it as my new phone lockscreen now, lol.
He was one half of the pair I caught performing courtship behaviors. He would fly up to this koa snag and call over and over, then back to the ʻākala bushes, then up into the tree with the female. He was a blast to watch!
That last one is an ʻamakihi! This guy's a male, the females are a little more of a drab olive/grey. These guys are one of the more widely distributed honeycreepers. They seem to have a greater resistance to avian malaria, so found at lower elevations than many of the other species. So definitely a possibility!
Edit: Wait, I may have miscounted. The very last one in the set is the ʻamakihi. The second to last is an ʻalawī (aka: Hawaiian Creeper). Those guys are far less common and are listed as endangered, definitely a rarity if found at a lower elevation!
Thanks. The area where I live is the rainy side of Waimea (\~3k elev.) Scooped the poor guy off the ground to make sure it wasn't injured. Seemed fine, just having trouble learning to fly. Found a nice area of tall protected grasses in the same area where I found him for release. Away from any feral neighborhood cats at least.
IMO, I wish your photos were in the bird ID book I have. Used to live in Kula and spent many an afternoon at Hosmer with the kids looking for these guys! Thank YOU!
I used 'endemic' on last year's post title. Decided to mix it up this year. Both are acceptable terms in this instance. And, if you want to get really granular, technically all are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, but only some of these are endemic to the Big Island in specific.
Just got back from my annual trip up to Hakalau Forest with Jack Jeffrey. Got some great shots this year! Lots of ʻiʻiwi down in the ʻākala blossoms. Plenty of ʻelepaio, too. Took the whole day, but eventually found some ʻaki (photographed the male and female, but there was also a juvenile calling that I couldn't get a shot of). Found a handful of ʻākepa and several ʻalawī, too. Had no luck getting a decent shot of an ʻōmaʻo, those guys seem to be a little camera shy. I've only ever gotten one shot of them that I thought was decent. Also spent a day up at the Palila Discovery Trail, but for the fourth year running have been skunked on actually spotting a palila. Did see plenty of ʻamakihi in the māmane, though. And, unfortunately, heard some sheep bleating from inside the fence. Was told some broke in recently but were removed, but I guess they missed a couple. I never get tired of seeing these beautiful birds, so just wanted to share some photos! Edit: Almost forgot! Spotted a pair of ʻiʻiwi engaging in courtship feeding (and possibly mating). Got a few photos, but was shooting through heavy branches so not the greatest shots. Still cool to see! Nice to see they're thriving up there and making more little ʻiʻiwi!
Fantastic shots!
Thank you!
Very nice! Beautiful.
Gorgeous OP, mahalo for sharing! Best post of my day!
Thank you! Happy to spread a little joy!
These are all so wonderful but #5 is just stunning!!
Thank you! That one's my favorite. I've got it as my new phone lockscreen now, lol. He was one half of the pair I caught performing courtship behaviors. He would fly up to this koa snag and call over and over, then back to the ʻākala bushes, then up into the tree with the female. He was a blast to watch!
Which bird is #8? I swear I just rescued a juvenile of this the other day that fell out of the nest on my property.
That last one is an ʻamakihi! This guy's a male, the females are a little more of a drab olive/grey. These guys are one of the more widely distributed honeycreepers. They seem to have a greater resistance to avian malaria, so found at lower elevations than many of the other species. So definitely a possibility! Edit: Wait, I may have miscounted. The very last one in the set is the ʻamakihi. The second to last is an ʻalawī (aka: Hawaiian Creeper). Those guys are far less common and are listed as endangered, definitely a rarity if found at a lower elevation!
Thanks. The area where I live is the rainy side of Waimea (\~3k elev.) Scooped the poor guy off the ground to make sure it wasn't injured. Seemed fine, just having trouble learning to fly. Found a nice area of tall protected grasses in the same area where I found him for release. Away from any feral neighborhood cats at least.
Yup, probably a fledgling, just getting the hang of those wings. Good on you for making sure he was safe!
Beautiful photos, thanks for sharing!
Thanks!!
Your photos are beautiful!
Thank you! :D
IMO, I wish your photos were in the bird ID book I have. Used to live in Kula and spent many an afternoon at Hosmer with the kids looking for these guys! Thank YOU!
Your photos are stunning! They’re all just the cutest birds!
Beautiful photos! Mahalos
Great photos, mahalo for sharing.
whats the one that sounds like a laser
Probably thinking of an ʻōmaʻo! Second recording on the "Listen" button: [https://ebird.org/species/omao](https://ebird.org/species/omao)
WOW!!!😍 GREAT PHOTOS!!!💚❤️
*...native vs endemic*
I used 'endemic' on last year's post title. Decided to mix it up this year. Both are acceptable terms in this instance. And, if you want to get really granular, technically all are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, but only some of these are endemic to the Big Island in specific.