Safe Bird Watching at HILT Preserves
We were excited to recently have a community member reach out with questions on safe bird-watching practices at Pūpuka Pond at Nu‘u Refuge on Maui. It got us thinking about helping all of our bird and outdoor enthusiasts enjoy Hawai‘i’s wildlife safely without disrupting sensitive nesting areas.
The 82-acre Nu‘u Refuge is known for serving as a pristine wetland and bustling rest stop for native birds traveling between the islands. Scott Fisher, Ph.D., our Director of ʻĀina Stewardship, identified these eggs (photographed with a telephoto lens by Charlene Yoshizu) from a nest belonging to the Hawaiian coot, or ʻalae keʻokeʻo (Fulica alai). These ground-nesting birds are endangered, but we are thrilled that they are thriving at the remote Nuʻu Refuge, along with other species like the Hawaiian stilt (ae‘o).
The ʻalae keʻokeʻo chicks require protection until they fledge. Placing nesting platforms in the pond has proven to be an excellent way to provide protection for the ʻalae keʻokeʻo, with several nests built on the nesting platforms, since predators, particularly mongoose and cats, do not like water.
When visiting Nuʻu Refuge or other nesting areas, please:
Keep dogs at home, which helps protect eggs and chicks from being disturbed or abandoned. (No pets are allowed at HILT’s community preserves.)
Be extra careful around wetlands, which are popular nesting sites for birds. Nests are fragile and can be well-camouflaged.
Maintain a safe distance. We suggest keeping a distance of about 50 yards (half the length of a football field) and bring binoculars to aid in sighting the birds.
Do not approach or touch nests. Some species of birds, like the ʻalae keʻokeʻo, often seem comfortable wandering away from their nests, so the absence of birds does not mean nests or eggs are abandoned.
Keep noise to a minimum and be aware of your impact.
Fortunately, our stewardship work at Nu‘u is well away from the area where this nest was spotted, so we won't be bothering them. After May, most of the ʻalae keʻokeʻo chicks at Nu‘u will have hatched and fledged. We look forward to seeing these chicks at Nu‘u soon!
Mahalo to Charlene Yoshizu for sharing these beautiful photos with us. Do you have photos to share from our preserves? We’d love to see them: info@hilt.org.