Download 2014 Brochure (.pdf) - Ornitholidays

U S A – H A W A I I
USA – Hawaii
Iiwis, Omaos & Nenes
Thursday 16 April – Wednesday 29 April 2015
Leaders: David Kuhn and Nigel Jones
2015 Cost £4,799 single room supplement £600
awaii may be famous for Waikiki Beach and Pearl Harbour, but it hosts an interesting variety of endemic birds. Spring is the
Hbest time for birding the Hawaiian Archipelago - the forest birds are most vocal and active, and large numbers of seabird
species are present. We visit the four main Islands of the group: Hawaii, Maui, Oahu and Kauai, in a geographical progression
beginning in the south-east with the oldest island, and working our way north-west, to the newest. The accommodation and
transportation during our tour have been selected to optimize comfort and the efficient use of our time and, as armies and bird tours “travel on their
stomachs”, to afford access to some of the best restaurants to be found, many serving Hawaii’s fabulous seafood delicacies – Ahi, Ono, Opah,
Opakapaka, to name a few. While it must be said that many of our target birds are difficult to find and sometimes don’t easily give lingering looks, our
goal is to obtain the best views for as many of our party as our skills, preparation and luck allow.
KAUAI
OAHU
Honolulu
MAUI
HAWAII
(Big Island)
The single most salient biological feature in Hawaii is the degree of endemism encountered in birds and in all forms of life - a feature that follows
directly from the Islands’ isolation from other landmasses. The best known example is that some 20 million years ago the first North American finches
arrived to find an abundance of vacant ecologic niches and the absence of competition, and through the process of adaptive radiation evolved as
many as 75 species of the group known as Drepanids, or Hawaiian Honeycreepers - the brilliant jewels of the native forests. Some 20 of these species
remain. Each island is home to a unique cohort of “Dreps” as well as other native forest bird species, and we can focus on these throughout the
Islands. Along our way we can expect to encounter many of the non-native species introduced in the Islands. Other salient natural features on our
tour include the active Kilauea Volcano, splendid native forests unique to each island, tropical palm-lined beaches, lava flows, and much, much water,
from thundering waterfalls to the surrounding great wilderness of the Pacific Ocean.
Throughout the tour Nigel will have the expert guidance of David Kuhn, Hawaii’s most experienced bird guide. There is the option of extending your
holiday at either end of the tour by staying in Honolulu for extra nights.
ITINERARY
Days 1 to 4
We leave London on a morning flight bound for
Los Angeles, which connects with an onward flight
to Hilo, where we arrive later the same day. On our
descent into Hilo, we may see the peaks of Mauna
Kea and Mauna Loa, Hawaii’s highest mountains.
Hilo is on the east side of the island of Hawaii,
(always known as the Big Island). We meet our
leader, David Kuhn, and transfer to our hotel for a
four night stay. From our base in Hilo we venture
out to windward Mauna Kea and the splendid
Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge, the first U.S.
Refuge created especially for forest birds. Our
target species here are the very scarce Io (Hawaiian
Hawk), Omao (Hawaiian Thrush), Akiapolaau,
Hawaii Creeper, Hawaii Amakihi and the Akepa.
During our time on Big Island we visit Puu Laau
leeward of Mauna Kea, which is a drier forest
ecosystem where we look for Palila, the last
remaining finch-billed Drepanid. Another area we
visit is the kipukas, which are pockets of forest
surrounded by fairly recent lava flows. These are
found on the slopes of Mauna Kea along the
Saddle Road and support a variety of endemic
Hawaiian birds, such as several species of
Hawaiian honeycreepers and Hawaiian Elepaio (a
monarch flycatcher). The two most conspicuous
honeycreepers are the impressive Iiwi and the
Apapane, both scarlet all over. One day we visit the
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where a good
network of roads gives us the opportunity to
explore the natural wonders of the park, including
the scenic Crater Rim Drive, an 11-mile road that
Nene
20
For a previous tour report or further information please call: 01794 519445