Hobbies And Interests
Endemic Hawaiian Birds
Many of Hawaii's native birds are found nowhere else in the world: That is, they are "endemic" species. Such a situation is common in isolated archipelagos like Hawaii, where animals and plants that manage to reach the remote outpost evolve into forms highly distinct from their far-flung ancestors and relatives. Some of the more well-known examples are the Hawaiian honeycreepers, which, like Darwin's famous Galapagos finches, diversified into numerous, niche-specific species -- seed-eaters, nectar-eaters, insect-eaters -- from a common ancestor. The nene, or Hawaiian goose, an open-country bird, is another celebrated endemic.
Other Natives
Certain other avian residents of or visitors to Hawaii are not specific to the archipelago. Many of these are seabirds, which tend to be wide-ranging by nature and necessity (although a handful of endemics are even in this group, such as the Hawaiian petrel). A variety of albatross species breed on Hawaii: Midway Island, a remote atoll on the northwestern fringe of the island chain, supports huge colonies of Laysan and black-footed albatross. Frigate birds, tropic birds and terns are other native, non-endemic species frequenting the coasts and near-shore waters. Various ducks, sandpipers and grebes also naturally inhabit Hawaii, as do two raptors of enormous geographic spread, the osprey and peregrine falcon.
Exotic Species
Like other remote islands, Hawaii has suffered mightily from the problem of invasive exotic species. These are animals and plants introduced to the island via human activity; their "invasive" nature means they have adapted well to Hawaiian conditions and aggressively assume ecological niches. This is not an unusual process -- the ancestors of endemic Hawaiian birds, after all, technically "invaded" the volcanoes when they were blown off course to them. But the hand played by humans, who sometimes intentionally release exotic birds, and the dire threat posed to animals found nowhere else in the world cause many to lament the situation. Regardless, the modern-day birder in Hawaii sees many species from Asia, North America and other faraway locations thriving, especially around human settlements. These include mynah birds, sparrows, cardinals, canaries, mockingbirds and a host of game birds like chukar and wild turkey.
Identification
The diversity and unfamiliarity of Hawaiian birds -- many of the invaders, after all, are from other tropical regions and may be new to high-latitude birders -- offer exciting opportunities for the keen observer. As anywhere, hone in on strong field marks such as the dramatically shaped bills and colors of native honeycreepers like the 'Apapane. A good field guide and pair of binoculars are absolute musts.