It is comforting to know that at least one beautiful and much anticipated event has not been cancelled because of the virus: the annual arrival of the Pacific golden plovers, known here as kolea.
And this year there is something new: residents are invited to join Hawaii’s first all-volunteer, statewide kolea count.
Since walking is one of the few activities many people do these days, counting kolea is an opportunity to add variety and purpose to daily strolls.
Marine life writer Susan Scott says, “The count is something positive during the COVID era. It gets you out of the house. You can do it by yourself and it offers a chance to build your awareness of these remarkable birds.”
The kolea — one of the longest nonstop migratory species in the world — normally begin arriving in the islands in July-August after their 3,000-mile nonstop, four-day flight from the tundra in western Alaska.
They are here now, hopping around in parks, cemeteries, golf courses, parks, any place there’s a grassy expanse, even on backyard lawns.
Each bird faithfully returns to the same place each year, fighting off other birds that dare to enter its territory.
The kolea reside in Hawaii for eight months each year before flying back to Alaska in late April-early May for their breeding and chick-raising season.
Hawaii Audubon Society is sponsoring the kolea count, hoping to collect data over the next 10 years on how many kolea arrive here annually, where they hang out and how long they stay. (...)
Interested counters can sign up for either a big count or a little count.
Residents interested in the little count will be responsible for recording the one or two kolea in their home gardens, church lawns and small parks.
People who register to do the big count will be tallying birds in large areas including cemeteries, large parks, athletic fields and school and college campuses and golf courses. (...)
Counters of both the little and big areas are asked to answer just four questions: How many kolea are in the area? When do the kolea in that area arrive? When do they leave for Alaska? How many remain in Hawaii through the summer?
Scott says many people interested in doing little counts are already checking in with information about what they call “their kolea,” the plovers who have been coming to their yards year after year.
Many households have given the kolea on their lawns names and taken to feeding them everything from mealworms they purchase at pet stores to small portions of scrambled eggs.
Scott says the protein and fat in chicken eggs is an acceptable snack for the plovers, which spend their days in Hawaii fattening up on worms and insects for the rigors of their return flight to Alaska.
While they are here, they almost double their weight from 4 to 7 ounces for their flights north. (...)
Kolea are a native species that has been in the Hawaiian Islands for more than 100,000 years according to fossil records.
Scott says they are remarkable in their readiness to adapt to modern day living, many not being afraid of cars or noise and loving such innovations as mini golf courses where they find it easier to catch insects crawling across the AstroTurf.
And this year there is something new: residents are invited to join Hawaii’s first all-volunteer, statewide kolea count.
Since walking is one of the few activities many people do these days, counting kolea is an opportunity to add variety and purpose to daily strolls.
Marine life writer Susan Scott says, “The count is something positive during the COVID era. It gets you out of the house. You can do it by yourself and it offers a chance to build your awareness of these remarkable birds.”The kolea — one of the longest nonstop migratory species in the world — normally begin arriving in the islands in July-August after their 3,000-mile nonstop, four-day flight from the tundra in western Alaska.
They are here now, hopping around in parks, cemeteries, golf courses, parks, any place there’s a grassy expanse, even on backyard lawns.
Each bird faithfully returns to the same place each year, fighting off other birds that dare to enter its territory.
The kolea reside in Hawaii for eight months each year before flying back to Alaska in late April-early May for their breeding and chick-raising season.
Hawaii Audubon Society is sponsoring the kolea count, hoping to collect data over the next 10 years on how many kolea arrive here annually, where they hang out and how long they stay. (...)
Interested counters can sign up for either a big count or a little count.
Residents interested in the little count will be responsible for recording the one or two kolea in their home gardens, church lawns and small parks.
People who register to do the big count will be tallying birds in large areas including cemeteries, large parks, athletic fields and school and college campuses and golf courses. (...)
Counters of both the little and big areas are asked to answer just four questions: How many kolea are in the area? When do the kolea in that area arrive? When do they leave for Alaska? How many remain in Hawaii through the summer?
Scott says many people interested in doing little counts are already checking in with information about what they call “their kolea,” the plovers who have been coming to their yards year after year.
Many households have given the kolea on their lawns names and taken to feeding them everything from mealworms they purchase at pet stores to small portions of scrambled eggs.
Scott says the protein and fat in chicken eggs is an acceptable snack for the plovers, which spend their days in Hawaii fattening up on worms and insects for the rigors of their return flight to Alaska.
While they are here, they almost double their weight from 4 to 7 ounces for their flights north. (...)
Kolea are a native species that has been in the Hawaiian Islands for more than 100,000 years according to fossil records.
Scott says they are remarkable in their readiness to adapt to modern day living, many not being afraid of cars or noise and loving such innovations as mini golf courses where they find it easier to catch insects crawling across the AstroTurf.
by Denby Fawcett, Honolulu Civil Beat | Read more:
Image: Susan Scott
[ed. This is great. We used to have a pair that returned to our front yard for years.]
[ed. This is great. We used to have a pair that returned to our front yard for years.]
