Hawaii 2015: Wildlife
Friday, 4 December 2015 19:28![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
iguana
Not many animals have made it as far out into the Pacific Ocean as Hawaii, but I ended up seeing a good majority of those that did.
Nēnē
The elusive nēnē, seen mostly in silhouette on "Nene Crossing" road signs, is an evolutionary branch of the Canadian goose, adapted for Hawaii's higher altitude areas. They're found on Hawaiʻi, Maui, and Kauaʻi, though despite spending a lot of time in Hawaiʻi's Volcanoes National Park, and their propensity for stumbling idly into people's paths before begging for food, I didn't see any on Big Island.
We also didn't come across any on Maui, though the orientation video we watched certainly mentioned them.
I was resigned to not seeing any, and wouldn't have, but for a chance visit on Kauaʻi. We stopped in at the Kīlauea (no, not that Kīlauea) Lighthouse on Kauaʻi, solely because I have a fondness for lighthouses. However, it turned out to be situated on a wildlife preserve and right there behind the lighthouse, three of the geese were picking at the grass, oblivious to all the tourists taking photos.
There were also a couple more sitting and feeding around the fence of the lighthouse. It's easy to see why they're so endangered when they will happily walk over to anything without any kind of risk assessment. They had no natural predators until the mongoose was accidentally introduced to the islands.
The best part about the nēnē is the sound they make, a mournful yearning whine that is utterly adorable. This video from somebody on Youtube has the sound, though I remember it being a little less high pitched.
The elusive nēnē, seen mostly in silhouette on "Nene Crossing" road signs, is an evolutionary branch of the Canadian goose, adapted for Hawaii's higher altitude areas. They're found on Hawaiʻi, Maui, and Kauaʻi, though despite spending a lot of time in Hawaiʻi's Volcanoes National Park, and their propensity for stumbling idly into people's paths before begging for food, I didn't see any on Big Island.
We also didn't come across any on Maui, though the orientation video we watched certainly mentioned them.
I was resigned to not seeing any, and wouldn't have, but for a chance visit on Kauaʻi. We stopped in at the Kīlauea (no, not that Kīlauea) Lighthouse on Kauaʻi, solely because I have a fondness for lighthouses. However, it turned out to be situated on a wildlife preserve and right there behind the lighthouse, three of the geese were picking at the grass, oblivious to all the tourists taking photos.
There were also a couple more sitting and feeding around the fence of the lighthouse. It's easy to see why they're so endangered when they will happily walk over to anything without any kind of risk assessment. They had no natural predators until the mongoose was accidentally introduced to the islands.
The best part about the nēnē is the sound they make, a mournful yearning whine that is utterly adorable. This video from somebody on Youtube has the sound, though I remember it being a little less high pitched.
Albatrosses
We also saw some albatrosses across the bay using some of the Kīlauea reserve's binoculars. They were busy hiding behind trees, protecting their young. They also were doing a head-bobbing jig of some sort, looking rather comical.
It's amazing we hadn't heard of Kīlauea Wildlife Refuge other than the mention of a lighthouse in our guide books, since it's one of the (many) places in the state I'd say was a must-visit for anyone with an interest in wildlife.
We also saw some albatrosses across the bay using some of the Kīlauea reserve's binoculars. They were busy hiding behind trees, protecting their young. They also were doing a head-bobbing jig of some sort, looking rather comical.
It's amazing we hadn't heard of Kīlauea Wildlife Refuge other than the mention of a lighthouse in our guide books, since it's one of the (many) places in the state I'd say was a must-visit for anyone with an interest in wildlife.
Coqui? Coqui!
My first experience of wildlife when I arrived in Hilo was the coqui frog. I say "experience" because while we didn't go looking for one until the next evening, there are uncountable numbers of this thumbnail-sized frog practically everywhere in Hilo. They're named for the sound they make, a loud high-pitched two syllable whistle, like a very annoying cricket.
They're an invasive species and there's mixed feelings among the locals as to whether they're good or not. In Volcano they were largely absent due to local control efforts (there was a hotline number at the entrance of the estate) which I think on balance is just as well.
My first experience of wildlife when I arrived in Hilo was the coqui frog. I say "experience" because while we didn't go looking for one until the next evening, there are uncountable numbers of this thumbnail-sized frog practically everywhere in Hilo. They're named for the sound they make, a loud high-pitched two syllable whistle, like a very annoying cricket.
They're an invasive species and there's mixed feelings among the locals as to whether they're good or not. In Volcano they were largely absent due to local control efforts (there was a hotline number at the entrance of the estate) which I think on balance is just as well.
Wild boar
I was cycling in Volcanoes National Park and nearly fell off my bike as I heard a grunting at the roadside. I reflexively turned my head to the noise and then did a double-take as a couple of boar ambled past.
Emily and I also encountered a mother with suckling piglets near the end of the Hilina Pali road in the park. By the time we'd found somewhere to pull over and walk back, the hogs were hoofing it.
I was cycling in Volcanoes National Park and nearly fell off my bike as I heard a grunting at the roadside. I reflexively turned my head to the noise and then did a double-take as a couple of boar ambled past.
Emily and I also encountered a mother with suckling piglets near the end of the Hilina Pali road in the park. By the time we'd found somewhere to pull over and walk back, the hogs were hoofing it.
Cockerels
While the sound of coqui frogs characterised parts of Big Island, Kauaʻi had its own distinct voice: that of wild roosters. They knew not the proper time to crow, and so did so all day long. You could buy t-shirts virtually everywhere with a "Stoopid frickin' chicken" logo on them.
While the sound of coqui frogs characterised parts of Big Island, Kauaʻi had its own distinct voice: that of wild roosters. They knew not the proper time to crow, and so did so all day long. You could buy t-shirts virtually everywhere with a "Stoopid frickin' chicken" logo on them.
Honu
There are a few places on Big Island that tend to attract green sea turtles. Supposedly they are often at some of the beach parks along Hilo's shoreline, but although Emily saw them there frequently before I arrived, we didn't see any while I was there.
The first time I saw honu was on a beach near Pāhoa, though I don't remember exactly where. There were two of them relaxing in the pools of water amongst some rocks, waiting for the tide to come in so they could swim back out.
The other place that seemed to be popular with them was at the black sand beach near South Point, which they visited regularly enough -- and at the same place on the beach each time -- that the local authority had put a small fence up to dissuade tourists from the tour buses that periodically emptied out there not to harass them. Needless to say, bothering (or even touching, which some people think is okay?!) the wildlife is heavily frowned on, if not out-and-out illegal.
There are a few places on Big Island that tend to attract green sea turtles. Supposedly they are often at some of the beach parks along Hilo's shoreline, but although Emily saw them there frequently before I arrived, we didn't see any while I was there.
The first time I saw honu was on a beach near Pāhoa, though I don't remember exactly where. There were two of them relaxing in the pools of water amongst some rocks, waiting for the tide to come in so they could swim back out.
The other place that seemed to be popular with them was at the black sand beach near South Point, which they visited regularly enough -- and at the same place on the beach each time -- that the local authority had put a small fence up to dissuade tourists from the tour buses that periodically emptied out there not to harass them. Needless to say, bothering (or even touching, which some people think is okay?!) the wildlife is heavily frowned on, if not out-and-out illegal.
Whales
On the way to the wonderful Kaimū Beach Park we stopped along the roadside in an area that we thought we might spot some turtles, but another family who were having a picnic there told us they'd seen whales. We looked and sure enough we soon saw puffs of water coming. They got closer and suddenly the whale -- a humpback I think -- breached the water, showing us its dorsal fin before slapping the water with its tail and disappearing again. I got a photo of the fin but naturally I was more interested in watching it with my own eyes than through my camera.
On the way to the wonderful Kaimū Beach Park we stopped along the roadside in an area that we thought we might spot some turtles, but another family who were having a picnic there told us they'd seen whales. We looked and sure enough we soon saw puffs of water coming. They got closer and suddenly the whale -- a humpback I think -- breached the water, showing us its dorsal fin before slapping the water with its tail and disappearing again. I got a photo of the fin but naturally I was more interested in watching it with my own eyes than through my camera.
Dolphins
I've already described my experience of swimming with wild spinner dolphins, which was just amazing; there are so few animals that will voluntarily come up to you to say hi, and a species as intelligent as dolphins made it a very special privilege that I'll never forget.
I've already described my experience of swimming with wild spinner dolphins, which was just amazing; there are so few animals that will voluntarily come up to you to say hi, and a species as intelligent as dolphins made it a very special privilege that I'll never forget.
Geckos
Geckos are certainly not shy either, and some would always join us for breakfast at the Ka'awa Loa guest house near Kona. They'd jump into our empty juice glasses from anywhere they could. It was quite entertaining watching several of them vying for status as they tried to get the best position.
They even like yoghurt.
Geckos are certainly not shy either, and some would always join us for breakfast at the Ka'awa Loa guest house near Kona. They'd jump into our empty juice glasses from anywhere they could. It was quite entertaining watching several of them vying for status as they tried to get the best position.
They even like yoghurt.
ʻIo
The ʻio hawk is a species I wasn't aware of until one day when we were walking through the rainforest in Volcanoes National Park one wet evening. Nobody else was about and we heard a bird call that was definitely hawk-like. Then we saw the bird perching on one of the ʻōhiʻa lehua trees, just a few metres away. Needless to say it had flown off by the time we'd finished gawping enough to get our cameras out. A lovely experience. There is just wildlife everywhere on Big Island.
The ʻio hawk is a species I wasn't aware of until one day when we were walking through the rainforest in Volcanoes National Park one wet evening. Nobody else was about and we heard a bird call that was definitely hawk-like. Then we saw the bird perching on one of the ʻōhiʻa lehua trees, just a few metres away. Needless to say it had flown off by the time we'd finished gawping enough to get our cameras out. A lovely experience. There is just wildlife everywhere on Big Island.
Mongeese
The mongeese in Hawaii are cute! But invasive! But cute!
The mongeese in Hawaii are cute! But invasive! But cute!
Horses
There were wild horses in Waipio valley. Here's a photo!
There were wild horses in Waipio valley. Here's a photo!
