Dawn Chorus: Birds of Hawaii (photos)

[Omaha Steve]

X post in GD

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/09/1409952/-Dawn-Chorus-Birds-of-Hawaii?detail=email

Good morning birders, twitchers, ornithophiles, and pie-fighters who took a wrong turn.

My wife and I spent a week on Hawaii Island (commonly known as the Big Island) in June. We saw a wide array of birds, both introduced and native. For the latter, we went on a fantastic guided bird tour -- thanks to the suggestion of a Kossack! -- and managed to see many of the endangered endemic birds. The bird pics range from serviceable to awful, so I supplemented them with some landscape shots, like this late sunset in the west-coast town of Kailua-Kona.



A few months ago I asked Haole in Hawaii for advice on Hawaii birding. He suggested that I contact conservation biologist and renowned bird photographer Jack Jeffrey for a tour of the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, a limited-access preserve with a high concentration of Hawaii's rarest birds.

This was great advice! My wife and I spent a full day hiking with Jack -- a delightful guide -- through the high-elevation forest on the eastern slope of Mauna Kea (accessible only by permit), watching and learning from an expert bird photographer while trying to get some of our own shots. The weather held up nicely, though the usual fog eventually rolled in.



FULL story and many photos at link.

[shenmue]

1. Finally, something positive

[cpwm17]

2. Thanks for that.

That inspires me to visit Hawaii sometimes. I can get a free flight, but the expensive hotels and rental cars scare me. Maybe one time.