What's Up Hawaii?

   Aloha and Good Morning everyone out there in the Hawaiian Life community. How are you all doing today? Hot day but hopefully I can get this posted. I won't have to worry about the storms taking out the internet, for there isn't any at the moment! ;-) Today I'm talking about the Koloa Maoli, the Hawaiian Duck. It is endangered, which seems to be the case with all the beautiful things in our beloved state. I found two interesting videos on the Koloa Maoli that I will send as well.  I'll also send a great article Mike done. There is a very cute story that is attached to the latest Virtual Book Tour Stop with Mike. Make sure you get a chance to read it. Nobody tells a story like he does. ;-)

                                       *Koloa Maoli: The Hawaiian Duck*

   The Koloa Maoli also known as the Hawaiian Duck, is one of two native duck species found on the Hawaiian Islands and is endangered. It is closely related to the mallard duck. Adult males and females are mottled brown overall. The males have darker heads and necks with an olive colored bill and bright orange feet.  The female is smaller than the male and the bill of the female is more orange and their feet more of a dull orange. They forage in a wide variety of freshwater habitats which includes artificial wetlands. Their movements between feeding and breeding habitats between Kauai and Niihau occurr.

   The Koloa Maoli forage in shallow water. Like the mallard, their diet includes earthworms, dragonfly larvae, snails, grass seed, green algae, and leaf parts of the wetland plants. They are usually found alone or in pairs and are wary, especially when nesting, although in winter they are found in larger groups exploiting abundant food resources. Some pairs of the Hawaiian duck nest in the lowland habitats, but the ones on Kauai, nest in the upper Alakai swamp. The nesting occurrs year round but the majority of their activity is between January and May. Even though some nests are found in areas where humans frequent, the most popular areas for nests are near the ground water. Usually eight to ten eggs are laid and hatch less than thirty days.

   They are found in the wetland habitats from sea level to 3,000 meters, which is 9,900 feet elevation on all the MHI except for Kahoolawe. Populations on all islands except for Kauai originated from re-introduced birds. On Kauai, the populations are found in Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge and streams. On Oahu the populations are found in Kawainui, Hamakua, and Heeia marshes, James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge and in wetland habitats in or near Punahoolapa, Haleiwa, Pearl Harbor, and Lualualei Valley. On Maui, the Hawaiian ducks are found in Kahului, Kanaha and Kealia ponds.On the island of Hawaii populations occurr in the Kohala Mountains, in Poloui, Waimanu and Waipio valleys, and Mauna Kea. Historically the Koloa Maoli occurred on all the MHI except for Lanai and Kahoolawe.

   It is estimated that the population is at 2,500 individuals, with about eighty percent of them occurring on Kauai. With some areas being inaccessible of some habitats, it is likely that the number is much higher. The Hawaiian duck was fairly common in natural and agricultural wetland habitat. By 1949 there where 530 remaining. Thirty on Oahu and 500 on Kauai. You can find them on freshwater marshes, flooded grasslands, coastal ponds, streams, montane pools, forest swamplands and fish ponds. Some important habitats are located in National Wildlife Refuges or on State Lands. Some other habitats are not protected. Mainly this includes wetlands that face developments or those used by agriculture.

   The most important threat to the Koloa Maoli is hybridization with non native mallards. It is a real problem on Oahu because most individuals are hybrids. Also feral pigs and goats significantly reduce the nesting habitat for the Hawaiian duck. Even though hunting was a big reason for early decline, other things threaten the Koloa Maoli. In the last 110 years approximately 31 percent coastal plain wetlands have been lost. A decline in agriculture crops also reduced the wetland habitat. The eggs and young ducklings are very vulnerable to predation by rats, dogs, and feral cats. Avian diseases such as botulism are also affecting these ducks. Then there is our environment! We need to keep the areas clean that end up polluting our Hawaiian ducks. From trash to fuel and oil spills, they are the biggest threat of all...

   Well that is it for another Monday. I hope you enjoyed this article on the Koloa Maoli. It does seem like most stories I do are all endangered. What a shame. They are all fascinating in their own way. I hope you all are enjoying the end of summer. Some kids are already back to school already. Where did the summer go? Mine evaporated. Way too many hot temps to mention. Hope you all stay safe and have a great week. Remember there is plenty of merchandise to pick from at the Store Front here at Hawaiian Life. Those Tiki's at the Facebook Hawaiian Life Fan Page still need a good home...just saying!!! ;-) Looking for Mike? Who isn't...he's around somewhere... http://myonepage.com/MikeDolan Welcome back!!! ;-) Also while writing as you all probably already know, I tune everyone out to the sounds of my friend @GregSlawson ... I'll send a link to the place I first found him... but beware: if you listen to the soothing sounds of his music in the evening hours, don't be surprised if you fall asleep...zzzzz He's that good! ;-)

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Di @DianneLittle

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g26VZLnvsF4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysMYZSHeWzU&NR=1

http://hawaiianlife.com/content/famous-hawaiian-flora-and-fauna

Today's Virtual Book Tour Stop with Mike: ;-)

http://waterytart23.blogspot.com/2010/08/guest-author-mike-dolan.html

http://www.youtube.com/user/GCCreativeVideos

Until next time, Mahalo!

Aloha,

Di