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.
