Hawaii has more introduced bird species than anywhere else. Many introduced birds seem almost like native birds. They have repopulated lowlands, now uninhabitable for native species.
This Red-vented Bulbul was a native of India. It is common and abundant on Oahu Island.
The Hui Manu society was formed by Hawaiian residents living in a nearly bird less world. Its mission was to introduce birds from all over the world, from the 1920s to the 1950s.
This Red-vented Bulbul was drinking nectar from the flowers.
The Japanese White-eye is native to east Asia.
Introduced in the 1930s, it has spread throughout the main islands.
The Japanese White-eye is a tiny little bird, about 4 inches, smaller than Chickadees. These tiny little things are constantly moving, and difficult to photograph. I was lucky, because a few White-eyes, kept returning to the same clump of flowers, for nectar. I spent the best part of an afternoon, staking out the clump of flowers.
I took over a 1000 pictures, mostly of birds. I'll post a few at a time, as I sort through the stack.
Nice ones!
Shame the native birds have all gone, though.
Resin
I purchases a tour, "MOUNTAIN RAINFOREST ADVENTURE", a four mile hike, on poor, steep, and muddy trails. The brochure states: "The best trails on Oahu to observe the rare and colorful Hawaiian Honey-creepers, including the crimson Apapane and the yellow-green Amakihi." I didn't see a single bird in the Rain Forest, but the hike just about killed this old man.
I did see a few Red Jungle-fowl, along the road into the rain forest. They are descendants, of the domestic stock, brought by the ancient Polynesian people. This is a hen.
The Jungle-fowl are smaller than the common domestic chickens. It is said anyone wishing to eat Jungle-fowl, better have a good stewing pot, for these tough old birds. This one is a cock.
Incredible pics Gary! Shame you didn't get to see any native birds after such a difficult hike
I found a couple more Japanese White-eye pictures I like.
This Japanese White-eye has its bill inside the flower drinking nectar.
The Honolulu Zoo marks the east end of the Waikiki tourist district. The zoo has an extensive collection of beautiful exotic birds, from around the world. I would guess, there are at least, two wild birds living in the zoo, for every caged bird! This flock of Red-vented Bulbuls are steeling the food put out for the Giant Tortuous. There are more Bulbuls in the trees above, than are on the ground. The birds swoop down, grab a piece of food, then return to the trees for lunch.
The Cattle Egret is a migrant to western Micronesia. It was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands and is now abundant. There are usually several wild Cattle Egrets, in the Flamingo exhibit just inside the main entrance to the zoo. I photographed this bird in the park outside of the zoo entrance.
Black-crowned Night-herons are common resident native birds. There are usually several wild Black-crowned Night-herons, in the Flamingo exhibit, along with the Cattle Egrets, just inside the main entrance of the Honolulu Zoo. Few observers, of the exhibit, understand the Herons and Egrets are free wild birds, coming and going at will! This immature Black-crowned Night-heron was surrounded by Flamingo’s when I took the photograph.
A portrait of an adult Black-crowned Night-heron, fishing along the Ala Wai Canal. The canal forms the north and west boundaries, of the Waikiki tourist district. At low tide in the mornings, several Black-crowned Night-herons usually fished near the shallow east end of the canal. A major pedestrian walk-way parallels the canal. The herons do not pay much attention to human activity, making it fairly easy to approach close, for good pictures.
There are plenty of fish in the polluted water of the Ala Wai Canal. The Black-crowned Night-herons don't have to work very hard to catch a few fish.
This is a Common Waxbill, native to Africa, introduced to Oahu in the early 1900s.
The Common Waxbill is a tiny little Estrildid Finch, about four inches long. They feed primarily on grass seeds.
Flocks of 10 to 50 Common Waxbills can be seen foraging, in the large open grassy lawns, of Kapi'olani Park, between Waikiki and Diamond Head Crater. One of the most abundant birds.
Love the Waxbill! Great shots Gary!
The Nutmeg Mannikin is a tiny, dark brown, Estrildid Finch with a black bill. A native from India to the Philippines it was introduced in 1865.
That bulbil looks like it could be related to a jay almost.
And the waxbills remind me a lot of my zebra finch (native to Australia) and so does the mannikin. Acutually I think I have seen the mannikins for sale with zebra finches...
This message was edited Mar 6, 2009 12:00 PM
Nutmeg Mannikin are usually found in small flocks in open grassy areas of lawns and parks. Not nearly as abundant as Common Waxbill, Nutmeg Mannikin can be found in Kapi'olani Park, between Waikiki and Diamond Head Crater. The tan bird on the left side of the picture has plumage of an immature bird.
Rntx22,
The Waxbills and Mannikins are tiny little finches similar in size to zebra finches. They have been in the caged bird trade. Almost all birds which have been part of the caged bird trade during the past 150 years, have at some time been released, or escaped in Hawaii.
This Java Sparrow is a larger Estrildid Finch native to SE Asia. It can be found in open grassy areas of lawns and parks, common in Kapi'olani Park. The bird in front is an adult, the one in back is an immature.
Java Sparrows were so common, and inexpensive, I had one, as a caged bird, when I was 12 years old.
Three fledgling Java Sparrows, with one parent, in Kapi'olani Park.
Thanks for sharing the pics, Gras! That Japanese White-eye reminds me a a Kinglet.
Love that masked Waxbill. So cute!
The Yellow-fronted Canary, a native of Africa, was introduced around 1964. It is established on Oahu, particularly in the Kapi'olani Park area.
The Yellow-fronted Canary is another tiny little finch. It belongs to the Subfamily Carduelinae, along with the House Finch, Redpoll, and the Common Canary.
This message was edited Mar 6, 2009 10:52 AM
And by the looks of it, goldfinches too!
An accurate observation 22. The Goldfinches and Pine Siskins are in the Subfamily Carduelinae also.
The House Finch is a native of North American, introduced in the 1900s. The House Finches are aggressive. They will work their way up the sides, of high-rise hotels, stopping on every lanai* looking for crumbs. I was able to take these close-ups by putting bread crumbs on the lanai railing. This is an orange colored male. Some of the males are orange others are more red color.
*lanai: Hawaiian porch or veranda, often used as a living room.
A female House Finch, on the lanai railing, of my hotel room.
Of course the House Sparrow, the "feathered mouse," which has become establish, nearly world wide is present here also. This is a male.
The Common Fairy-tern (White Tern), Gygis alba, is pantropical. On Oahu, Fairy-terns breed in Kapi'olani Park. They do not build a nest, an egg is laid directly on a branch of a tree.
This message was edited Mar 6, 2009 2:55 PM
The Fairy Tern is a white bird, with a ring of black feathers, around the eyes, giving it a BIG eye look.
There is a problem trying to spot Fairy Terns. A majority of the feral Rock Doves, on Oahu, are white or partially white. White Rock Doves out number the Terns by at least Ten to One. I had to look at a lot of Rock Doves, to find a few Fairy Terns.
The most abundant and fearless bird, in the tourist district, is a tiny little dove, the Zebra Dove. Zebra Doves are common around human habitation, even coming to the tables, of open air restaurants, in Waikiki.
I nearly stepped on Zebra Doves numerous times. They literally get under foot.
This women was mobbed by Zebra Doves, when she held out hand fulls of bread crumbs.
The Spotted Dove a native of SE Asia was introduced in the 19th. century. It is not as numerous as either the Rock Doves or the Zebra Doves, and in general less aggressive.
15th Species
I only said less aggressive. This Spotted Dove helped its self to french fries on the lanai, of my hotel room.
Nice bird tour of Hawaii, Gary. lovely pictures.
