HAWAIIAN ISLANDS 
Peeps are rare in the Hawaiian Islands, and many go unidentified. This Least 
Sandpiper (here 12 March 2009) was one of two that wintered at Kealia Pond 
National Wildlife Refuge, Hawaii. Photograph by Michael Walther. 
Belted Kingfishers are conspicuous enough to attract attention on their rare visits to the Hawaiian Islands, 
but they are seldom photographed. Fortunately, this female remained in one spot on the western side of 
Maui Island long enough to allow some photographs (here 11 March 2009). Photograph byJacquiProbst. 
When a rare Black Tern was found in Kahuku, Oahu Island in December 2008, 
birders were disappointed when the bird quickly disappeared. It was thus a 
pleasant surprise when a Black Tern was found across the Island In Kailua 24 
March 2009 (here). Photograph by Michael Walther. 
This Peregrine Falcon was seen as It flashed by the thirty-second floor of a 
condominium complex at Waikiki, Oahu Island, Hawaii on 9 March 2009. Re- 
markably, a falcon was seen from the same window on 5 December 2008. 
Photograph by Michael Walther. 
(ADY). A Glaucous-winged Gull was seen at 
Puuhala, Molokai I. 5 Mar (ADY); this was 
probably the same gull reported around s.- 
cen. Molokai in early-late Mar (SB, EM). 
Laughing, Ring-billed, and Glaucous-winged 
Gulls are some of the most commonly report- 
ed gull species in the Region. A Black Tern 
was spotted at Kaelepulu Pond, Oahu I. 24 
Mar (ph. MW). This may well have been the 
same bird seen the previous winter around 
Kahuku, Oahu 1., as the bird in both locations 
was reported to have an injured leg. The bird 
in 
was seen again in Kaelepulu 
Pond 25 Mar (MO) and 5 Apr 
(PD, RM). Black Terns are rare in 
the Region. 
Parrots seem to be doing well 
in urban areas. At least 500 Rose- 
ringed Parakeets were seen 
downtown Honolulu 7 
Mar (MO), and 54 Red- 
masked Parakeets were 
counted in e. Honolulu 21 
Apr (MO). A Belted King- 
hsher was observed on w. 
Maui I. 11 Mar (pb. JP, 
CP). This bird had been 
first spotted 17 Feb (SA). 
Belted Kingfishers are rare 
in the Region, but because 
they are conspicuous and 
easily identified, they are 
reported rather regularly. A 
Puaiohi (Endangered), a 
very rare native thrush, 
was spotted in Kokee S.P., 
Kauai 1. 18 Apr (GLA et. 
al.). A nesting pair of 
Puaiohi was observed in 
Kokee 31 May (PR, EV). 
The male was unbanded, 
while the female had bands identifying 
it as a captive-bred bird. The only re- 
port I received of any of the other rare Kauai 
forest birds was of one Akikiki in Kokee 19 
May (HC). A small group of birders observed 
a Maui Parrotbill (Endangered) and heard one 
Akoheohe (Endangered) along the boardwalk 
in the Nature Conservancy’s Waikamoi Pre- 
serve on Maui 1. 7 Mar (CP et al.). Another 
group visited Waikamoi 19 Apr and observed 
a Maui Parrotbill and at least 4 Akoheohe (BR 
et al.). 
Contributors: George L. Armistead, Jeannie 
Barrett QBa), Dusti Becker, Jessica Berryman, 
Steve Burkson, Happy Chambers, Laura Cory, 
Annie Crary, Ginny Culver, Reg David, Arleone 
Dibben- Young, Peter Donaldson, Darren Dow- 
ell, Sherree Denise Farmer, Scott Fife, Julie 
Henig, David Kuhn, Jim Levenson, Richard 
This photograph from Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge, Hawaii on 22 
March 2009, illustrates the remarkable bill of Akiapoloau, a rare 
Hawaiian endemic. The species has been observed hammering on tree 
branches with its short, stout lower mandible and using its long, thin 
upper mandible to extract prey hidden in narrow crevices. Photo- 
graph by George L. Armistead. 
May, Jeff Miller, Ed Misaki, Daryll Myhr, Mike 
Nishimoto, Mike Ord, Mike Peczynski, Ralph 
Perrine, Ellen Peterson, Chuck Probst, Jacqui 
Probst, Pauline Roberts, Brooks Rownd, Dorcie 
Sakuma, Ryan Shaw, Brette Soucie, Matt Stel- 
mach, Sonia Stephens, Eric VanderWerf, 
Michael Walther, Megan Westerveli (MWe). O 
Peter Donaldson, 2375 Ahakapu Street 
Pearl City, Hawaii 96782, (pdnldsn.bird@mac.com) 
VOLUME 63 (2009) • NUMBER 3 
523 
