Birdwatching at Koloko National Historic Park on Big Island, Hawaii

 

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Wondering Tattler stalking through the tidepools.

Koloko-Honokohau National Historic Park is a real hidden gem here on the Kona coast of the Big Island, Hawaii. There was an entire village here, surrounding very important fish ponds, including fresh water springs which would have been vital to life in ancient Hawaii. Lava flows, including one from 200 years ago, have flattened most of the village, but some historical remnants remain. The salt water fish ponds now play home to hungry sea turtles and migrating shore birds. The inland brackish pond is home to endemic waterfowl like Hawaiian coots and Hawaiian black necked stilts.

Bird enthusiast are learning that this can be a wonderful place for bird watching. I've seen 18 species of birds here in the span of one morning. You have the benefit of having different ecosystems including offshore, coastal, tide pools, a strip of forest, and a brackish pond. The more ecosystems they have, the more diversity of animals you can find. So if you find yourself in the area, come check out the wildlife and history at Koloko-Honokohau National Historic Park.

Hawaiian coot swimming in the big inland fish pond.

Wedgetail shearwater, a deep ocean sea bird, cruising the waves offshore.

Black crowned night heron.

Wondering tattler.

Pacific golden plover, this little bird flies between western Alaska and Hawaii every year.

Wondering tattler cruising the shoreline.

We got a good look at these endemic Hawaiian black neck stilts in the fishpond.

The group was very excited when we saw a brilliant flash of yellow in the kiawe trees. It was a pair of saffron finches. They are introduced, so not native, but beautiful non-the-less.

A female Northern Cardinal posing for the camera.

Cardinal feeding on these dangling seeds.

Numerous sea turtles popped up in the shallow tidepools, delighting the guests.

We entered the park on the coastal side, putting us in a great position to search for native shorebirds and other species in the strip of forest and fish ponds of Koloko-Honokohau National Historic Park.