Black-crowned Night Heron of Hawaii

"God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into its nest." - J. G. Holland

This adult Black-crowned Night Heron is truly in its own paradise !  This reference photo of mine was taken in Waikiki at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort where they have a variety of birds and even penguins.   

This was also taken at the Hilton resort and gives a closer view to observe the color of the feet and bill, etc., of an adult.  Their eyes are very red.   The male is usually taller than the female, about 26 inches in height with a wingspan of 45 inches.

The above two photos were taken months apart at Ala Moana Beach Park on Oahu and show young herons  not quite - but almost- in adult plumage.   Here they were feeding on minnows.   Their diet varies greatly including frogs, mice, insects, and various fish.   Sometimes they catch and eat baby and small adult birds.  

This juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron posed for me at the botanical gardens at Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Oahu.    Hawaii recognizes this heron as Indigenous, and it was first taken note of by Captain Cook in 1778 on the island of Kauai.   It is known as 'Auku'u in Hawaiian and is very similar to all Black-crowned Night Herons which breed on every continent except Australia and Antarctica.

Below is a recent painting of mine.  I took the reference photograph of the heron in the tree on the island of Kauai in broad daylight.  There was no moon present.  I used a lot of artistic license in this painting.

"By The Light Of The Moon - Black-crowned Night Heron"

10" x 8" oil on museum quality gessobord

Available

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

Hawaiian Gallinule At Hamakua Marsh, Oahu

Hawaiian Gallinule

The Hawaiian Gallinule is a subspecies of the common moorhen.   It is endangered and is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands....now limited to Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai.  The population today is probably only in the hundreds.   This photograph and the ones below were all taken at Hamakua Marsh in Kailua, Oahu.  

The one photo gives a good glimpse of their rather large feet.  I had a big surprise when I took the following two photographs of the same bird at the marsh .

This is not a juvenile Hawaiian Gallinule, but just a mostly white adult which must be rather rare.  I contacted the Hawaii Audubon Society and sent them these two photographs and they informed me that it was an adult and that another one had been seen at Kahuku on Oahu.  Rather pretty bird, I think.  

This is a view of Hamakua Marsh.  It was a grey overcast day when I took this photograph; the color there can be quite beautiful at times.

"Making Ripples"

24" x 24" Acrylic on gallery wrap canvas

This is an available painting of mine of the Hawaiian Gallinule at Hamakua Marsh. 

There will be more posts about Hawaii's endemic birds (and others as well) very soon.  I enjoy all wildlife, but birds are very special to me for some reason.   

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com

Surprise at Hamakua Marsh Oahu

"Surprises are the joy of living.  Surprises directly touch the soul.  Good surprises energize and bad surprises teach."  - Alev Oguz

Black-Necked Stilt or Ae'o

Capturing these stilts in flight was one nice surprise at Hamakua Marsh on a visit there last month. I visit there often and this was the first time I got a good shot of them in flight.   They are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and are similar to the mainland USA race, although there is more black on the neck and lower face than on the ones found in North America.   There were several at the marsh the day I took this photo; the marsh is located in Kailua on Oahu not too far from Honolulu.   

Black-Crowned Night Heron or 'Auku'u

The Hawaiian form of this bird is pretty much the same as those found in North America.   What a great surprise to view this photo on my computer and to realize I had captured the quick turn of its head at just the right moment.   These Black-Crowned Night Herons are found on all the Hawaiian Islands and every time I have visited Hamakua Marsh there have been several of them there.   I have also seen them at Waikiki and several other places on Oahu.

Hawaiian Coot or 'Alae ke'oke'o

The Hawaiian Coot also may be found on all the main islands.  I will include more photos of them and other birds found at the Hamakua Marsh in a future post.  

Hamakua Marsh - Kailua, Oahu

This is one view of the area on a cloudy, wet day with Hamakua Marsh being to the right.  Well, the main  marshy area is to the right.   

Black-Necked Stilts and Mallards

 I will make another post of Hamakua Marsh very soon.   Hope you enjoyed your visit here today !

reynoldsrenditions@gmail.com