Bird Call

Black Friday

I didn’t go to Walmart Black Friday. I went birding. In the northwest. In the rain. And loved it.

I saw a few interesting birds.  Sandhill Cranes. Bald Eagles. Hooded Mergansers.

But I didn’t get any photos.  Remember it was raining.

So let me take you back to Hawaii for Black Friday. In a manner of speaking.

Hawai 'i 'Amakihi  (Left)

When they started counting there were 142 native (See Bird Word Oct, 10) birds on the islands. Because of people, mosquitos, critters, and just plain bad management most are gone. There are 44 species left. Of those 30 are on the ropes.

 

Here’s a little good news though: the American Birding Association just added Hawaii to their birding area. What that means is more people will want to include them on their life lists. And the islands will be included in the Big Year competition. Which will attract more birders (and their money) to the islands. That can be used for conservation.

So. While I admit they’re a bit picked over. The birds that are left are amazing. You should go.

Want them on your bird list? Love beautiful birds? Take your money and go. It is Hawaii after all.

But hurry. Offer good only while supplies last. 

 

  

Palila

 

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Remember the children’s song There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly?

Just like Hawaii.

I need to explain that don’t I. The lovely Island of Hawaii has a bird problem. There aren’t enough of them.

 

'Io: Endangered Hawaiian Raptor

 

Hawaiians have a version of “Little Old Lady” that tells the story. (You have to imagine the ukulele and hula dancers.)

 

There were ships that brought some stow away rats.

They ruined sugar cane, eggs and bird habitats in Hawaii.

 

So to catch the rats they brought in mongoose;

They also ate eggs but left rats running loose in Hawaii.

 

So to catch them both they brought in some cats,

But they preferred birds that were missed by the rats in Hawaii.

 

To catch the cats they relied on wild pigs.

Well they ate eggs too (but at least gave spare ribs) in Hawaii.

 

Then up grew a herd from a bull and a cow

And they managed to eat up a forest somehow in Hawaii.

 

Then someone thought they would introduce sheep

Which finished the forest the cows wouldn’t eat in Hawaii.

 

So finally Audubon brought in us nerds;

We paid bucks for nice dinners and lectures on birds in Hawaii.  

 

They told us they’re stuck with the cats and mongooses,

And we all know how fast that a rat reproduces.

 

But they were trying so hard and showing such heart,

We wanted a way to at least do our part.

 

So we…

Ate some sheep.

And ate some cow.

And the very next night we had barbecued sow.

In Hawaii