Hawaiian Stilt. Himantopus mexicanus hawaiiensis / Ae o. Facts About Hawaiian Stilt

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Cora Dickerson
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1 Hawaiian Stilt Himantopus mexicanus hawaiiensis / Ae o What do you hear as you get out of your car at the pond? A friend called them the Chihuahua of the wetland because of their constant vocalization chatter. Recognition, warning, whatever the purpose the ae o are the most prevalent of the endangered birds at Keālia Pond. The ae o is a slender wading bird with black coloration extending from the forehead down the back of the neck and throughout the back. White covers the front of the face, down the front of the neck and underbelly. Their pink, long legs are almost as long as the bird s body and are one of their identifying features. Females have a tinge of brown on the back whereas the back of males is black. The long legs and long bill allow the stilt to wade into the water further than other common shorebirds at Keālia Pond. Ae o prefer shallow water no more than seven inches in depth. Nesting sites are on exposed mudflats and low islands with adjacent water (fresh, brackish, or salt water) and vegetation. Nests are either made from a pile of sticks or just a shallow nest depression on the ground. The onset of ae o breeding season is when water level in the ponds recede and mudflats are exposed, usually in late March-early April at Keālia Pond NWR. Nests consist of vegetation material with a depression in the middle or just a depression in the soil. Four brown speckled eggs are laid and incubated approximately 24 days. Ae o chicks are precocious once hatched they are mobile and feeding on their own, but under the watchful eyes of their parents. Chicks resemble their eggs with brown and off-white speckles until they obtain feathers similar to the adults. Breeding season, including chick fledging, is completed by mid August. Movement of ae o between wetlands on Maui and other islands are known from sightings of color-banded birds. Ae o are vocal even during the nonbreeding season. They actively defend their nests and chicks with calls and dive-bombing to detract the predator or disturbances. Upon threat of predators or humans, adults vocalize to warn chicks who in turn will crouch down and remain motionless, using their camouflaged down to blend with the ground. The ae o are the most vulnerable to nonnative mammalian and avian predators (cattle egrets) and are easily disturbed by human activities. During breeding season at Keālia Pond (April to July) areas of the Kanuimanu Ponds may be inaccessible to the public to allow birds to successfully incubate and raise their chicks. Facts About Hawaiian Stilt Invertebrates and other aquatic organisms (worms, crabs, fish) Unknown Length: cm ( in); wingspan: 71 cm (28 in)

Hawaiian Coot Fulica alai / Alae ke oke o The alae ke oke o is dark slate gray with a white bill and a large frontal shield (extension of bill onto forehead).

2 Hawaiian Coot Fulica alai / Alae ke oke o The alae ke oke o is dark slate gray with a white bill and a large frontal shield (extension of bill onto forehead). The frontal shield is white but some sport a small red dot which is not related to sex or age. They have white undertail feathers that are visible when adults are defending their territory and during courtship displays. Alae ke oke o are found in fresh and brackish-water marshes and ponds. They rarely fly, but are capable of sustained flight close to the water. Alae ke oke o can be observed throughout the year even when water level is low. During breeding season (December to March) they prefer deeper water (up to 18 inches in depth) interspersed in emergent vegetation which provides the vertical structure needed to construct nests. The vegetation also provides cover for young birds. When the ponds fill with water in the winter (typically December), alae ke oke o initiate their breeding cycle with the establishment of territories. Floating nests are constructed in aquatic vegetation and three to ten white eggs are laid. Adults share responsibilities of incubation (25 days) and caring for the young. Chicks possess black down, except on the head, neck and throat, where the down is reddish-orange. For the first week, the chicks bald orange head is prominent. Alae ke oke o are territorial during nesting and will defend their area from other coots. This aggressive behavior is evident as alae ke oke o raise their tail feathers and lower their head as they head off the intruders. In heated battles, the adults will use their wings to balance them upright as they use their feet to fight off other alae ke oke o similar to kickboxing! Maui has the second largest population in the state (O ahu is first). They are found at the island s largest wetlands: Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge and Kanaha Pond Wildlife Sanctuary. Alae ke oke o were listed on the Endangered Species Act in Facts About Hawaiian Coot Generalist feeders, eating seeds, aquatic leaves, invertebrates (crustaceans, snails), and tadpoles No information available Length: 38 cm (15 in); wingspan: 63 cm (25 in)

Hawaiian Duck Anas wyvilliana / Koloa maoli The koloa, is generally mottled brown and has a green to blue speculum (the distinctive feathers on the secondary wing feathers) with white borders.

3 Hawaiian Duck Anas wyvilliana / Koloa maoli The koloa, is generally mottled brown and has a green to blue speculum (the distinctive feathers on the secondary wing feathers) with white borders. Adult males tend to have a darker head and neck feathers (sometimes green). Both sexes have orange legs and feet. Females have a dull orange bill. Their quack is a little softer than the mallard and koloa are not as vocal. A close relative of the mallard, this endangered species not only decreased dramatically in numbers but is now restricted to only a few wetland areas in the main Hawaiian islands and faces challenges of losing its pure Hawaiian genetic pool with the increasing threat of hybridization with nonmigrating mallards. Historically, koloa inhabited all the main Hawaiian Islands excluding Kaho olawe and Lana i. In the mid 1800s, the birds were considered common; however, hunting and loss of habitat resulted in its extirpation from all islands except O ahu, Kaua i and Ni ihau by the 1950s. Hybridization with feral mallards is evident on the island of Maui, where most of the koloa observed at Keālia Pond NWR are not the true koloa species. Koloa are found from sea level up to 3,000 ft elevations on the Big Island, in lowland wetlands, river valleys, and mountain streams. Artificial and managed wetlands such as reservoirs, aquaculture ponds, and impoundments are also used. Birds prefer to forage in shallow water, less than 10 inches in depth along stream edges, wetlands, reservoirs, and ephemeral ponds. They also graze on upland grasses that are adjacent to water. They can begin breeding at one year old and nest year-round, but the main breeding season is between January and May. Two to ten eggs are laid in a well concealed nest lined with down and feathers. The incubation period is 30 days. Because their nests are established on the ground, they are highly vulnerable to mongoose, pig, feral cat, and dog attacks. The chicks are sometimes eaten by bullfrogs and bass. Saving Hawai i's Native Duck Hawai i Conservation Alliance has released a position paper about the threat that feral mallards pose to Koloa maoli, Hawai i s native duck. To download the paper and find out more about what can be done to help recover koloa, please visit their website. Facts About Hawaiian Duck Aquatic invertebrates, aquatic plants, seeds, and grains Unknown Length: cm (17-20 in)

4 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax / Auku u Stocky build with a short neck and short legs. Males and females are similar in color with black on their head and upper back, gray wings, rump, and tail; and white to pale gray underneath. Their bill is black and stout and eyes are red. Legs are yellow-green in color. Juveniles and first-year birds are mottled and striped brown and lack the black cap. Auku u are a cosmopolitan species that breeds on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. The population of herons within the Hawaiian islands are native (arrived on their own) and are present year-round. These birds are common throughout the refuge but most abundant during summer months as water level recedes and fish are concentrated into shallow water. Auku u are prevalent, with most sightings when flying or roosting in trees and shrubs. When water level is low and fish are abundant, the birds tactic for feeding is to stalk their prey standing motionless in or along the water s edge waiting for fish to come within reach to grasp it in their sharp-edged bill. Auku u are nocturnal and feed primarily during crepuscular periods (dawn and dusk). Feeds on a variety of freshwater and marine animals, including fish, mollusks, crustaceans, insects, rodents, birds, and eggs. Prey is grasped in the bill and not stabbed. Auku u make good photographic subjects they stand motionless as they wait for prey to come within reach. Facts About Black-crowned Night Heron Freshwater and marine animals, including fish, mollusks, crustaceans, insects, rodents, birds, and eggs 5-10 years (avg. 3 years) Length: cm ( in); wingspan: cm ( in)

5 Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica fulva / Kōlea The breeding adult is spotted gold and black on the crown, back and wings. Its face and neck are black with a white border and it has a black breast and a dark rump. The legs are black. In winter, the black is lost and the plover then has a yellowish face and breast, and white underparts. Phenomenal long-distance travelers, after breeding in the Arctic, these plovers migrate to spend winter almost half way around the world (5,000-13,000km away one-way). Some winter on tiny islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, a feat requiring precise navigation. Alaskan breeders winter in Hawai i Fiji, South Pacific Islands, all the way to New Zealand. Pacific golden plovers breed in Siberian tundra and in West Alaska in June-July. Males usually return to the same nest site, even to the same spot. They form monogamous pairs. Relying on their excellent camouflage to avoid predators, they simply nest on the ground. They prefer well-vegetated well-drained tundra, often on hillsides or ridges. The nest is just a shallow scrape lined with lichens. Four eggs are laid, incubated by both parents (26 days). Soon after hatching, the chicks and parents move off to moist shrubby or grassy tundra. Young plovers are able to run soon after hatching. When threatened, the parent distracts the predator from the nest or chicks by pretending to have a broken wing. Facts About Pacific Golden Plover Invertebrates, berries, leaves, and seeds. 20 years Length: 38 cm (15 in); wingspan: cm (17-19 in)

6 Sanderling Calidris alba / Hunakai The hunakai is the smallest of the common shorebirds in Hawai i. It has a thin, black bill and black legs. From far away, these birds look white against the green blue waters by the shore. During the winter, hunakai have pale gray and light brown feathers on their backs. Their dusty brown crown meets with the contrasting stark white cheeks. This snowy coloration extends down their necks to their bellies. Like many kinds of birds around the world, the hunakai puts on its most colorful feathers for the nesting season. If you are lucky enough to see a hunakai that is reddish-brown on its head, breast, and back, you can be sure its nesting season is close. During winter months, when hunakai are in the Hawaiian islands and at Keālia Pond NWR, they can be seen feeding within the tidal zone of the front beach, in the shallow water of the refuge s ponds, or on the pond levees. Usually in small flocks, the birds light gray/white coloration stands out from the brown background. The nonbreeding range is in temperate and tropical beaches of North and South America. A majority of birds winter in Central and South America. Nesting habitat is in the high-arctic tundra, particularly the Canadian Arctic archipelago, Greenland, and Siberia. The breeding season for the hunakai is from July through August in the high artic tundra. The male will sing while flying overhead of a potential mate. Once on the ground he will ruffle his feathers with his head back on his shoulders to show off to the female! Once paired with a female, the nest must be made. Nests are constructed in the ground with mosses and lichens to cradle two to four eggs. These eggs have cryptic coloring and are beige or green-brown speckled. The camouflage colors will help protect the eggs from predators. Once these chicks hatch, it is time to eat. Like many shorebirds, the young are precocial and can feed themselves soon after hatching. Moreover, these chicks are able to fly as soon as 17 days after hatching. Facts About Sanderling In Alaska, they eat flies, seeds, algae and other insects. Here, they feed on mollusks and other invertebrates. We can see these shorebirds chasing the waves back into the sea as they search for invertebrates. 7 years Length: cm ( in); wingspan: 35 cm (13.8 in)

Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres / Akekeke The ruddy turnstone is a dramatically colored shorebird with short orange legs, variegated russet color pattern on its back, and black and white head,

7 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres / Akekeke The ruddy turnstone is a dramatically colored shorebird with short orange legs, variegated russet color pattern on its back, and black and white head, throat, neck and breast. This stocky shorebird is medium in size and distinguishable in flight by their white back, rump, upper tail coverts, wing bar and patch on the inner wing. Migration southward starts in August with adults departing before juveniles and is likely controlled by day length and accumulation of fat reserves. They eat a variety of items throughout the year using their ingenuity. During the winter, they get their insect and crustacean food from shorelines and fields, often turning over rocks, shells and marine debris to find the food beneath hence their common name of turnstone. They use their bills as shovels to dig for crabs, clams, and mussels. They will often eat carrion and eggs of seabirds like curlews. However, during the breeding season they eat mostly flies! They are territorial birds like most shorebirds. Males typically will defend the area in which they will mate with a female and brood their young. The courtship rituals between a male and a female include ground and aerial displays. These birds are monogamous and remain with the same mate for the entire breeding season. They will make a depression in the ground to form a nest; nearby vegetation is used to line the nest cup. They lay 3 to 4 olive green eggs that are incubated by both parents for days. When all are hatched, the entire family moves to areas with food resources. The females are the first to leave and the males take care of the young until they fledge three weeks later. Facts About Ruddy Turnstone Insects, crabs, clams, mussels, and eggs of other seabirds 9 years Length: cm (8-10 in); wingspan: cm (19-22 in)

EIDER JOURNEY It s Summer Time for Eiders On the Breeding Ground

EIDER JOURNEY It s Summer Time for Eiders On the Breeding Ground The only location where Steller s eiders are still known to regularly nest in North America is in the vicinity of Barrow, Alaska (Figure 1). Figure 1. Current and historic Steller s eider nesting habitat.