Gus Bodner

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                                                       Kolea Bird Project

The Kolea (also called the Pacific Golden-Plover) is Hawaii’s most visible native bird.  They can be seen throughout the state on lawns and campuses, as well as in more wild settings such as the top of the Koolau mountains.

In late April these people-friendly birds disappear.  Where do they go?  Alaska!  This is a 3000-mile flight for birds that don’t float on water.  In Alaska, they nest and raise their chicks, and return to Hawai’i each fall

Kolea may have lead the first people to the islands of Hawai’i!  Polynesian voyagers are very sharp observers of bird behavior – birds help them find land on long voyages. They would have known 2000 years ago that Kolea live on land.  Watching them depart to the north each spring would have been good evidence of land to the north.

The Kolea Bird project of the University of Hawai’i GK-12 Education Program is linking Hawaii’s students with researchers studying the Kolea.   Students in all grades are using modern scientific methods to ask questions such as:

      ·        “What do Kolea eat?”
·        “Do Kolea have territories?”
·        “How can they fly so far?  How do they find their way?  Is this similar to human voyaging and wayfinding?”
·        “Do kolea fly to Alaska together, in big flocks?  Do birds from Kauai’i fly together with birds from O’ahu and the Big Island?”
·        “How can we help Kolea and other native creatures?  How can they help us?”

Alaska – where Kolea are born

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