Sunrise Birding, LLC - Bird Watching Tours - HAWAI I Avian Specialties & Natural History - March 29

Nene HAWAII
Avian Specialties & Natural History
March 29 - April 10, 2009

HAWAII--The most remote island archipelago on Earth--lies north of the equator in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Many unique features attract naturalists to the Islands, chiefly the high degree of endemism among the life forms, active volcanism, verdant and varied native forests, and the surrounding great wilderness of the Pacific Ocean.

The island chain’s endemic bird families, particularly the Hawaiian Honeycreepers or Drepanids, have long attracted birders. The diverse forms that comprise this family evolved from a single ancestor akin to a North American finch into nectarivores, bark-pickers, insect gleaners, or borers, of many brilliant colors. These honeycreepers and native birds of other families have been decimated, beginning with arrival of the Polynesians and continuing through the introduction of mosquitos and a multitude of alien plant and animal species. Many bird species have gone extinct and the remaining natives face a precarious future. Our tour of Hawaii will focus on seeing the surviving endemic forest species, seabirds, and other Hawaiian avian specialties. Between birds we will immerse ourselves in a comprehensive natural history of Hawaii.

Don't miss this extraordinary, comprehensive, and fully inclusive tour
of the unique islands of the Hawaiian archipelago!

Trip Cost and Travel Planning | Registration Form

Day 1 - Arrival
After our arrival this evening in Honolulu, Oahu we will take time to settle into our accommodation for the next two nights.

Day 2 - Oahu
This morning we will depart for an overlook at Laie Point where we will sea watch to pick out seabirds such as the widespread Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Masked Booby, Sooty and Gray-backed Terns, and if we are lucky the near-endemic Christmas Island Shearwater.

Hawaiian Black-necked Stilt From here, we will visit a series of small wetlands in the vicinity of James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge where we are likely to find small numbers of Hawaiian Coot, the endemic Koloa or Hawaiian Duck, Hawaiian subspecies of Common Moorhen and Black-necked Stilt, plus introduced species such as the Red Avadavat, both Spotted and Zebra Dove, and Red-vented Bulbul. Our primary target of this area is the Endangered Bristle-thighed Curlew, as small numbers of this rare bird regularly winter in the vicinity. In the afternoon we will depart for nearby Tantalus/Roundtop Loop where we search for local Hawaiian endemics such as the uniquely patterned Oahu Elepaio (one of five races in the Islands), Oahu Amakihi, and the brilliant red Apapane.

We may also have time to explore the Kuliouou Valley Trail for the often-difficult Oahu Amakihi and Oahu Elepaio among other species we may still need from the island.

Day 3 - Oahu to The Big Island
This morning we will do some local birding in the vicinity of Waikiki Beach and nearby Kapiolani Park. Great Frigatebirds can often be seen soaring overhead and the attractive White Tern breeds in the tall casuarinas inside the park. This should also give us a chance to catch up with some of the introduced species of the Hawaiian Islands including Japanese White-eye, Java Sparrow, the ubiquitous Common Myna, and Yellow-fronted Canary.

At mid-day we will board our flight to Hilo on the Big Island, the archipelago’s island of greatest habitat diversity. Our center during the next four days will be in Hilo, many peoples’ favorite Hawaiian town. We will reside at the birder-popular Uncle Billy’s hotel for four nights.

Day 4 - The Big Island
We will concentrate today on a variety of habitats along the slopes of Mauna Kea (White Mountain), a massive dormant volcanic peak rising over 4,200 meters—highest mountain in the world as measured from the sea floor. The pockets of unique tropical forest that surround this volcano along the famous Saddle Road support a wide diversity of endemic Hawaiian avifauna, and we will be searching for birds such as the Omao or Hawaiian Thrush, furtive Elepaio of the volcano form, the widespread Hawaii Amakihi, and with luck we may encounter the rare Akiapola’au, recognized for its remarkable bill including a short lower mandible for chiseling, coupled with a long flexible upper mandible sharply decurved for probing inside cavities. We will then venture into a drier forest ecosystem at Pu`u La`au on the leeward slope of Mauna Kea where we will diligently search through the remaining range of the endangered Palila, a cryptically-colored species of finch-billed Hawaiian honeycreeper, the Mauna Kea form of Elepaio, and a variety of introduced game birds such as Wild Turkey, California Quail, Kalij Pheasant, and Erckel’s Francolin.

Day 5 - The Big Island
Iiwi Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge is one of the finest birding sites on the island of Hawaii. Today, arising especially early, we will set out into this reserve of Koa-Ohia montane cloud forest, on the windward slopes of Mauna Kea, concentrating specifically on the Pua Akala Tract. Our efforts as we walk through open forest will be to locate the endangered Hawaii Creeper, beautiful tangerine-orange Akepa, and Akiapoola`au as well as one of the signature birds of Hawaii, the stunning Iiwi. We will keep a keen eye out for the very scarce endemic Hawaiian Hawk, and later we may spend some time searching along the Stainback Highway if this unpredictable species proves elusive.

Day 6 - The Big Island
Today, if we have satisfactorily viewed our endemic targets, we venture to explore the spectacular Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, one of the most scenic national parks in the world, including steep volcanic sea cliffs, gigantic calderas, and active basalt flows. A fine network of roads and trails allows us easy access to explore the natural wonders of the Park, including the Thurston Lava Tube, scenic Crater Rim Drive circling around Kilauea Volcano, and the spectacular Chain of Craters Road allowing views of the more recent lava flows along the coast. Here we will also be able to study the difference between the distinctive pahoehoe and a’a varieties of lava. Among other native bird species we will have seen, we may encounter the Nene or Hawaiian Goose, and may also happen across introduced species such as the skulky Red-billed Leiothrix and attractive Melodious Laughingthrush.

Day 7 - Maui
Today we will fly to Maui birding en route at Kanaha and Kealia ponds for waterfowl and shorebirds as we make our way to our lodging for the next couple days. Accommodation will be at scenic up-country Kula Lodge for two nights. The rare Endangered Hawaiian Petrel nests in burrows along the Haleakala Crater and we will attempt to catch a glimpse of this difficult species at dusk.

Day 8 - Maui
We have a full day to explore this beautiful island and will begin driving up the scenic road into Haleakala National Park where from the summit reaching over 3,000 meters we can enjoy unsurpassed panoramic views. Introduced Chukar Partridges and displaying Eurasian Skylarks can often be seen along the way complemented by the fantastic Silver Sword plants that dot this unearthly landscape. Near the headquarters we will search for Nene, our second chance to see this endemic goose, almost an icon of global conservation efforts.

permission pending, we will search for the endemic Alauahio or Maui Creeper, the difficult Akohekohe or Crested Honeycreeper, the exceptionally rare Maui Parrotbill, and introduced Japanese Bush-Warbler at Waikamoi, a forested Nature Conservancy preserve.

Day 9 - Kauai - The Garden Island
Today we will take a flight to Lihue on the island of Kauai, the Garden Island, widely regarded as the greenest and most beautiful island of the Hawaiian Archipelago, and the oldest of the main Islands. In the afternoon we will visit Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge which offers arguably the best land-based seabird watching in the Hawaiian Islands. Small numbers of nesting Laysan Albatross will vie for our attention as Brown and Red-footed Boobies and Red-tailed Tropicbirds fly nearby. Wedge-tailed Shearwaters will have been returning in numbers to their nest burrows by this time of the year, and specifically we will search for the celebrated Nene, the endemic Hawaiian goose that was re-introduced to the mongoose-free island of Kauai in efforts to save the species from extinction. Accommodation will be at the Garden Island Inn near Lihue for four nights.

Day 10 - Kauai Mountains and Canyons
The mountains of Kauai are richly forested and winding unpaved roadways give us access to the interior of this picturesque island. Stopping at the spectacular Waimea Canyon, Hawaii’s own Grand Canyon, we will see resident White-tailed Tropicbirds cruising nearby before continuing our birding in the wet mountain forest of Kokee State Park. Along the way we might happen upon a Pueo, an endemic subspecies of Short-eared Owl, before making our way into the forest searching for Anianiau, the local island form of Elepaio, Kaua’i Amakihi, Apapane, Iiwi, and Akeke`e among other introduced species such as Red Junglefowl, Melodious Laughingthrush, and shy White-rumped Shama.

Day 11 - Kauai
Today after an early start we will hike deep into the Alakai Wilderness Preserve, where we will search for the very rare Akikiki or Kauai Creeper, and the scarce Puaiohi, Hawaii’s rarest surviving thrush. This wet moss-draped rainforest is prime habitat for these two difficult birds, and supports the core of their remaining populations.

Day 12 - Kauai Pelagic
Today with weather permitting we will embark on a pelagic trip searching for seabirds as well as cetaceans including the wintering magnificent Humpback Whale and several resident species of whale and dolphin. The steep craggy cliffs offer spectacular scenery and sensational views of the Na Pali coastline. With fortune we might obtain views of the endangered Newell’s Shearwater and Hawaiian Petrel, among more widespread species while we keep our eyes out for one of several other possible Pterodroma petrel species whizzing by. We may also take time to anchor off and enjoy the kaleidoscope of colorful reef fish with a snorkeling excursion.

Day 13 - Departures
This morning we depart the picturesque island of Kauai to board our returning flights from Oahu.

Local Leader : David Kuhn
David Kuhn has been guiding wildlife tours for more than 30 years in North America, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Fiji and for more than 20 years in Hawaii. His specialty is Hawaii’s endemic avifauna and, as an avid sound recordist, he has focused on the vocalizations of these birds as well as the nesting seabirds on the archipelago. David also leads tours of Hawaii for Birdquest of England one of the world's top bird tour companies which attests to his expertise and we are pleased to have him lead this tour for Sunrise Birding.