Hawaii - Waimea and Hakalau

Today we got very lucky and were permitted into Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge - the only NWR set aside specifically for endangered birds.  Hakalau is closed to the public - the only way to gain entrance is with a authorized guide.  This is the reason I signed up for the trip.  Then Hurricane Lala hit the Big Island mid-August and they closed the park due to roads being washed out and fallen trees.  Sadly, DOGE fired all but one employee at the park , and he was not able to complete the extensive repairs to the road on his own, so it’s been closed ever since.  But…Suprise!  Our local guide Mandy was able to pull some strings and we got access to a small area today.  We were the first people to bird Hakalau since Hurricane Lala!

Lawn Ninja, aka Common Mynah

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, female
This is the only place to see them in the U.S.  
They are native to Africa and Asia.

African Silverbill

Rosy-faced Lovebirds

Nene, the Hawaii state bird 

Hawaiian Hawk
This is the only raptor found in the state and it only lives on the Big Island.

Gray Francolin

Hawaii Elipaio

Hawaii Creeper

ʻAkiapōlāʻau

He is pecking holes in the branches and pulling out longhorn beetle larva.