![]() ![]() The endemic species were unable to cope and many species have become extinct. Worst of all was the unfortunate introduction of mosquitoes in 1826, as they provided a vector for avian malaria. Since man settled in the islands the honeycreepers and other native birds have fought a losing battle (starting with the extinction of a number of flightless birds soon after the Polynesians first settled), as most of the lowland forests were destroyed and introduced alien plants and animals proved to be serious pests. The Hawaiian Honeycreepers range from tiny, drab-coloured, nectar-feeding, warbler-like birds to large, brightly-coloured, thick-billed seedeaters others creep along trunks and feed with peculiar decurved bills or pick at the bark. ![]() Hawaii boasts an endemic bird subfamily: the Hawaiian Honeycreepers or Drepanidinae (sometimes treated as a full family, Drepanididae), the finest known example of the process called adaptive radiation, wherein a varied array of species evolved from a single ancestor. Hawaii is a place of great contrasts: altitudes range from sea level to 4205m and annual rainfall from more than 10m on Kauai to only a few centimetres on some of the leeward beaches of the Big Island!įor naturalists, the main attraction of Hawaii lies in the extremely high percentage of endemism in the local fauna and flora (amounting to about 90%). Few people realize that the 50th State offers many unique natural phenomena, including the world’s most active volcano (Kilauea) and the world’s tallest mountain if measured from its bottom on the seafloor (Mauna Kea), as well as extraordinary volcanic mountain scenery, luxuriant forests, extensive lava flows and semi-deserts, remote beaches, cascading waterfalls, pounding surf and turquoise waters. In the mind of most Europeans, Hawaii stands for the white sandy beaches of Waikiki, beautiful hula-dancing, flower-covered girls, the battle of Pearl Harbor, breaching Humpback Whales, surfers riding immaculate waves and its melodic language, full of vowels and repeated syllables. The term Hawaii usually refers to the eight main islands: Oahu, Hawaii proper (also known as Big Island), Maui, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and Niihau.Ĭaptain Cook brought the islands to the attention of the rest of the world in 1778, but Polynesian explorers had settled these volcanic peaks long before him. Halfway across the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator, lies the Hawaiian archipelago, consisting of 122 islands and spreading 2400 kilometres across the Pacific from Kure Atoll and Midway in the northwest to Hawaii in the southeast. Our Hawaii birding tour has the most comprehensive itinerary available in the islands and consistently produces a high proportion of the islands’ specialities. Sunday 18th April – Wednesday 28th April 2027īirdquest’s Hawaii birding tours explore these beautiful islands with their largely endangered endemic landbirds (including the Hawaiian Honeycreepers, sometimes considered a distinct family), their interesting seabirds and migrants such as the rare Bristle-thighed Curlew. Saturday 20th April – Tuesday 30th April 2024 ![]()
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