KILAUEA — Patrons to the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) can take advantage of early nesting sights, as wedge-tailed shearwater chicks abound, and at least three nene goslings frolic on the property. Kathy Batha, supervisory park ranger for the
KILAUEA — Patrons to the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) can take advantage of early nesting sights, as wedge-tailed shearwater chicks abound, and at least three nene goslings frolic on the property.
Kathy Batha, supervisory park ranger for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said that the nene usually nest from October, but one pair was recorded nesting on Aug. 9, and the result is the three goslings.
In addition to the nene, Batha said that the wedge-tailed shearwater chicks are easily seen now, one six-week-old chick nesting right next to the doorway of the contact building adjacent to the old lighthouse structure.
Shearwaters nest in burrows that are close to the surface, and chicks can get crushed when stepped on, so signs abound warning patrons to keep an eye open for chicks who may, on occasion, make an appearance on walkways.
Gretchen Johnson, one of the rangers who was helping visitors, said that a chick had actually come out on the sidewalk on the far side of the lighthouse prior to the facility opening to the public.
But, since then, it had retreated to a spot just below one of the pictorial signs, from where it provided visitors with an unexpected thrill as it was spied moving about.
Juvenile booby birds, identified by their brownish feathers, also glide about in abundance, their antics oftentime extracting laughter from the visitors as they try out their wings.
Batha said that sometimes the juveniles try to land on the lighthouse spire, or once, even landed on the automated light, and tried to peck it open.
And, while there, don’t forget to check out the volunteers who are eager to share information about any of the birds or plants that inhabit the refuge.
Judy Burner and Linda Hovland are two such volunteers. On this visit, Burner was helping Hovland become acquainted with the workings of the bookstore.
Batha said both of these ladies are recipients of 500-hour pins for their volunteerism, and Hovland, who also serves as a monk-seal volunteer, also has the distinction of being a co-recipient of the 2003 Volunteer of the Year award that she shared with Romey Curtis.
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@pulitzer.net.
