Birding Around Princeville, Kaua'i

I didn't have to go very far from where we were staying in Princeville to see some great birds.  I was so excited about all the new birds I was seeing that Gaby said it was like I was in Disneyland.  Ha, so true. 

But before I get to the birds, I promised I would tell about all the chickens on Kaua'i.  They were everywhere!  The first ones I saw were in the parking lot of the rental car place.  They are loud too.  The roosters make noise at any hour of the day.  Apparently there have always been chickens running loose on the island.  Then in 1992 Hurricane Iniki destroyed some chicken farms and hundreds of chickens escaped.  It doesn't help that its only predators are cats, dogs, and cars.  So why did the chicken cross the road?  To get to Kaua'i.  But seriously, there is a species of bird called Red Junglefowl that look virtually identical to the feral chickens.  They can be found in more remote areas and undisturbed forests.

Princeville chickens

Here are some other birds I saw around the neighborhood.

Java Sparrow

Japanese White-eye

Japanese White-eye (juvenile)

Chestnut Munia

Chestnut Munia

Great Frigatebird

White-tailed Tropicbird

Red-crested Cardinal

Hawaiian Goose (Nene)

I also saw this cool spider, not sure what kind it is, cane?

 I also visited Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge to check out the taro fields.

Black-necked Stilt

Common Gallinule

baby Common Gallinule

Most surprising was a Snow Goose among the Nene, very rare in June.

Snow Goose and Nene

Hanalei Lookout