Aloha Friday, my dear friends! It's been an exhausting week but any military family knows the stress and exhausting pace of moving. We all take great pride in our homes. In my own humble opinion, it is quite rewarding to make a "new" home feel like we have always lived there. Putting away all the clothes, hanging the pictures, putting up the special knickknacks so that we can all be comfortable and successful is the true meaning of family, 'Ohana. We are all set here now and ready to take in the island! It's the Hawaiian peoples wish that all that come to explore, vacation, or live become 'Ohana and especially take care of the Aina (the Land). In Sandbridge, Virginia Beach, Va. the motto is "Only Leave Footprints Behind" and truly that has always stuck with me wherever I hike and explore. Which leads me to my first wildlife encounter this week!
So, I have been doing lots of research about what I might find on the island and mostly that research involved preparing for what birds I might encounter and add to my Birding Life List. I knew that there were not many mammals to be found (besides that pesky non-endemic mongoose) and was pleasantly surprised when I came about this huge gray-green mass laying on the beach. I was in a secluded cove on the North Shore and had found an Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal! I took several photographs of the huge sea mammal as it lazily snored on the shoreline. It was then that I noticed that it had a red numbered tag on it's tail. I stopped shooting and pulled out my phone for some fast research and quickly realized that this was not a usual occurrence. The Hawaiian Monk Seal is only two mammals endemic to the Hawaiian islands, the other being the Hoary Bat. There are only roughly 1,400 seals left. The high juvenile mortality rate is due to starvation and marine debris entanglement. Luckily, NOAA and several network programs are out to teach and apply conservation efforts for this magnificent species. I learned that all sightings should be reported so I called G41 into the Marine hotline and the volunteer on the other end was extremely grateful and excited to hear that G41 was doing well! There are several pictures in the Mammal section of the website. I didn't realize how special this event was and am so grateful for the experience.
My other encounter for the week was Life Bird 320! The Red-billed Leiothrix. I thought this bird was going to be easy to find but several hours hiking the Kahuku Point trails in over 90 degree heat, on the northern shore, finally produced the small colorful bird. It was a true joy to watch a few flit about me, make some noise and then, Poof! They were gone! These birds came over form India in 1918, they established themselves but declined in the 1960's, they are now back in population feeding on animal matter and fruits. There are many bird species here that have come from India and other countries, some are welcome and many have become extremely invasive and a nuisance. One huge nuisance is the Rose-
ringed parakeet several which live in my neighborhood. I have yet to achieve a picture worthy to share with you all of this parakeet but know this, it is loud and it eats all my mangos! Until next time, love your 'Ohana deeply and alway cherish the Aina. God Bless, MC
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