birds, plants and landscape of Kauai

Jason and I both enjoy watching and identifying birds here at home, and it was no different in Kauai.... Below is a bird we usually associate with barnyards. Not so there- roosters and chickens are everywhere! There are over 20,000 on the small island, it is estimated. When I told Eva this over the phone, she replied in dismay, "Oh, no! Is that going to ruin your vacation mommy?!" I think she had more of a Hitchcock type of birds everywhere in mind...


Can you guess where this rooster is standing? Look closely... the concrete, the red cans, the white and red benches, large parking lot in the background... the smell of cheap hot dogs w/ soda and cheese pizza... need I say more?

This rooster is dining in style at the Costco Cafe- Kauai! I thought it was just too funny, though a local thought I was ridiculous for taking these pictures. Who cares. It's novelty to me.

So the roosters / chickens escaped their pens during a hurricane a long time ago, and have proliferated ever since. But below is a native bird, the Nene (Hawaiian Goose) that was (is?) endangered. I don't think they are any more- we saw quite a few.

Above is another endangered native- I don't recall the name of this plant. We learned that all the flowers we associate with Hawaii- Hibiscus (most) Plumeria, Bird of Paradise- are all non-natives that flourished when introduced. The less showy plant about is a native that some are trying to re-establish. And below, a native tree (this one is just a baby-about 18 inches tall) that is so endangered is apparently hand pollinated by scientist who dangle down cliff sides with paintbrushes to do so. Or at least they think that's what they have to do anyway- who really knows. At any rate- it was a very unique looking tree. I wanted to touch it, but resisted.

Above and below are different views from a National Park / Wildlife preserve that has the lighthouse with the largest glass clam shell light ever made. (Now it uses an electric beacon though) The silly thing is no one can go up to see it. So you just have to hear about it at the bottom of the lighthouse, and then take pictures of all the lovely scenery, which is what we did.

You can't really tell in this picture, but the little island below had all these white spots on it, which we took for birds from afar. Only when we looked in the binoculars did we discover that the large white spots were actually streaks of bird poop. Still pretty if you don't know what you're looking at!

And here are a few shots of beautiful Waimea Canyon- a popular place to hike on the island. We haven't really explored it either time we've been to Kauai- this was just a scenic overlook- shoot a photo and drive off- type of sight. I would love to spend more time exploring it though, which is another reason we must return some day! We're thinking in another ten years, with the kids this time, who would all be teenagers. Wow!