PUHI — Kauai Community College officials and staff are thrilled to announce the successful egg hatching for two of the endangered bird species at the college’s loi, or kalo fields, in December.
PUHI — Kauai Community College officials and staff are thrilled to announce the successful egg hatching for two of the endangered bird species at the college’s loi, or kalo fields, in December.
Six endangered alae ula, or the Hawaiian Moorhen, showed up at the loi a few months before December, and the chicks hatched in the loi in December.
A pair of endangered Koloa Maoli, or Hawaiian duck, also hatched five ducklings in the nearby vicinity at the loi said Britton McDaniels, a KCC pathways assistant.
McDaniels also said there have been a number of endangered aeo, or Hawaiian Stilt, sighted at the loi this year.
“The ducklings have been seen using the loi,” McDaniels said. “Since their habitat is being diminished by poor water management and urban development, it is good to see these native endangered species flourish in this area that we are protecting. It’s great to see more native species coming in here and enjoying the space we’ve created. They wouldn’t be here if the loi wasn’t thriving the way that it is. That’s largely due to our loi manager, Josh Fukino.”
The loi is maintained by students in the college’s Hawaiian Studies program.
All KCC students and members of the public are invited to join in during loi work days that students have affectionately labelled “Taropy Tuesdays.” The work days take place from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.
Kauai Community College officials said the loi has become a magnet for endangered Hawaiian water birds where they can gather and grow their numbers.
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
