Wetlands Service Project

On Saturday March 6, volunteers helped prepare the wetlands in the Kauhale Preserve for nesting season. The Foundation originally planned to conduct the work last month – but had to reschedule the project to today due to the tsunami warning.

Because nesting season officially begins on March 1, Haseko had a biologist and environmental planner check the wetlands for nests to make sure the work would not disturb the birds. The service project called for the removal of pickleweed from the remote center island by hand in order to clear the way for the endangered Hawaiian Stilts (Ae‘o) that nest there.

Kalae Campbell of the ‘Ewa-Puuloa Hawaiian Civic Club graciously offered the opening pule at the start of the project.

Dr. Charles Morgan briefed the volunteers about the wetland and the types of birds that are regularly found there. He explained that the stilts like to make their nests in bare/sparsely vegetated areas close to shallow water so that it is easy for the hatchlings to feed. The open area also ensures no predators are hiding. Dr. Morgan added that the middle of the center island tends to remain pickleweed-free because it is a low spot affected by the ocean tides - making the area too salty for the pickleweed to grow in. He instructed the volunteers to help widen the muddy center of the island by pulling out the pickleweed along the edges, and to loosen the mud to make it easier for the stilts to forage there. He pointed out that although the stilts will aggressively defend their nests - once the eggs hatch, the baby birds are left to fend for themselves.

At the end of the project, the Foundation provided an informational handout about the endangered birds as well as lunch for the volunteers.

The wetlands are a federally protected preservation area, and in addition to the Hawaiian Stilts, also serve as foraging habitat for two other types of endangered birds: Hawaiian Coots (‘Alae Ke‘oke‘o) and Hawaiian Ducks (Koloa maoli).

Several years ago, Haseko cleared a 10-ft. wide moat around the island to provide a protective barrier for the birds. The shallow waterway discourages predators like mongoose and cats away from disturbing the endangered birds on the island.

Thanks to the Foundation and volunteers from the ‘Ewa-Pu‘uloa Hawaiian Civic Club, Pu‘uloa Outrigger Canoe Club, Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i Hale Pono ‘Ewa Beach Clubhouse, Hoakalei Country Club and Haseko, the Hawaiian Stilts will have a larger, pickleweed-free area to make their nests this season. Nesting season runs from March thru September.