HULE'IA WILDLIFE REFUGE

REFUGE WEEK OCTOBER 2013

HULE'IA REFUGE (hoo-lay-ee-ya)

            Lots of events happen each October since it is refuge week nationally.  Kauai is lucky to have three separate sites that belong to the refuge system.  Kilauea Point, of course, usually referred to as the Lighthouse, is open to the public.  Sunday, the first day of the week, admittance was free.  Hanalei is not open to the public however, it is one of the most photographed locations on the island because of the overlook near Foodland.  The patchwork quilt of taro patches is perhaps as famous as the Lighthouse for its scenic appeal.

            Hule'ia Refuge is neither open to the public nor visible for viewing from above.  Well, that is not entirely true.  There is an overlook for the Menehune Fishpond and the refuge is just upriver – all you see is green-green-green.

Menehune Fishpond (true name is 'Alekoko Fishpond) along Hule'ia River

The land area past the fishpond, jutting into the river is the refuge

The only way to really see the refuge is by tour during Refuge Week.   Just like Hanalei, the endemic birds use the wetlands to live and nest:  Hawaiian Stilts, Hawaiian Coots, Hawaiian Moorhens, Koloa Ducks, and the Nene.

 Looking toward the mouth of the Hule'ia River which follows this mountain range

 Looking toward river obscured by mangroves and larger trees, 

the wetlands have been laboriously cleared of foliage

Looking upriver

I had not been to the refuge for several years and it was great to see the progress.  Of course, funds are even worse now for National Wildlife Refuges and there is one worker and one small machine to clear the wetlands and keep them clear.

Buffalo grass

The entire refuge would return to looking like this rapdily - 

not a native plant in site,just agressive invasives

            Mike Mitchell is the ranger in charge of both Hanalei and Huliea wetland refuges and he knows the needs of the birds.  During non-nesting seasons the nutritional diets vary from the nesting stage.  Females require different nutrients when forming the egg, once the egg is laid to replenish herself; and then specific plants/bugs are needed by young chicks to support their growth.  The different birds have different nesting preferences – the gallinule likes to hide in the plants along the edge while the coots make floating nests among plants in the water.  The ideal wetland vegetation is a mixture of natives and “bird friendly” non-invasive, non-natives that serve the winged community.

Mike is very fond of the millet he is showing here

            The Nene have made a significant comeback since their near extinction in the 1950s-60s.  Down to 30 birds then, there are now about 2500 between all the islands.  Recently however, they were nesting too near the Lihue Airport and airplanes and birds do not mix anywhere.  Kauai Lagoons is a golf course on Marriot property and is a lovely place for Nene with water, grass, shade – but they do fly and that causes a hazard to themselves and to planes.  So, the State stepped in and removed them to another island (Maui?).  The hope is that the young birds will not return to the vicinity of the airport and that the parents will not nest there again.  A five mile bird-free radius is deemed safe for all concerned.

Kauai Lagoons earlier this year – before removal.

            Hule'ia Refuge is outside the five mile radius of the airport.  In an effort to attract Nene to that safe location, decoys have been set up.  We were all fooled by them from a distance – because they move!  Even right up next to them, they are good replicas.  

Our friend Jen Hahn (see botulism post) painted them and has moved on from Americorps and general volunteering to the task of monitoring the golf course for Nene.