Recently my husband and I flew to Kauai for 6 days for a company event. This was my first trip to Kauai and I already knew this island was not as developed as the other island for tourists. It is famous for all the chickens on the island that roam everywhere. These are Red Jungle Fowl and the roosters are bright and beautiful. It is also baby season so little ones were running around everywhere. This island quickly became my favorite due to the beauty and wildlife.
Kauai has some great places to stay and many activities. The hotel we stayed at was so beautiful with a water area filled with Koi. We were there with numerous people we knew and most of them were doing the normal activities people go to this island for…zip lining, helicopter ride, snorkeling and kayaking.
The hotel had three Nene’s (goose) which is the Hawaiian state bird that is endangered. Also two Black Headed Swans not native to Kauai at all. One of the swans and myself visited twice a day. A gentle and charming creature that would lower its head and make a noise every time I said how beautiful he/she was.
Can’t say I knew anyone else there who was as excited about the animal life (except for some friends) as I was especially the birds. I found a small Hawaii bird book that became my bible during this time and I made a list of what birds I wanted to see while I was there.
Luckily my husband does not like doing the normal things others were doing, but lighthouses is one of his interests which happen to be on a reserve that had 6 different bird species nesting while we were there. The important one I wanted to see was the Red Footed Boobie. With a pale blue beak and red feet and legs, this was a once in a life time event for me. They are graceful in the air as I saw when 2 of them coasted in the air in front of me. Landing and being on the ground is another manner. It is baby time and the photo is one below on the nest.
As we explored the island I checked off the birds one by one. Red Footed Boobie, Albatross, Great Frigate Bird, Common Myna, Cattle Egrets, Red Crested Cardinals, Nene, Tattler, Spotted Dove and Zebra Dove.
2 days left and as I sat in the hotel room emailing, a spotted dove landed on our balcony. I threw out some chips and it sat and watched me. Then proceeded to eat them with obvious enjoyment. It almost walked into the room. Not that shy there. I laughed one morning going into the room where a buffet breakfast was set up for us. We could eat outside as well and there was an employee standing with her back to the dirty dishes against the wall. There on one of the dishes was one of the Zebra Doves enjoying a roll. I looked at the employee who knew the dove was there and asked her not to shoo it away. She smiled and said that was why her back was to it, can’t shoo away what you don’t see.
Okay, why all of this about our trip? You probably think I’ll be pulling out the vacation slides and trapping you into watching them. Thought about it, just kidding. I’m writing this because of the disconnect with nature so many of us have. Most of the people there didn’t even notice the birds at the hotel, let alone on the island. Zipping through the forest whether in a helicopter or zip line is great, but not one person who did these things did it to see the island or the wildlife. It was only for the excitement of the movement. What’s the point of having eyes if you don’t see?
Spend time really becoming aware of the wildlife of any place you visit and of course where you live. If you don’t know about wildlife you are missing so much laughter, joy, miracles and important knowledge. Especially with the kids, they love to learn about animals. They need to know about our world on a broad basis and experiencing animals adds so much to their lives.
A good example of our disconnect with nature was on the news last night. A young squirrel was on school grounds, animal control was called, but before they arrived, concern the squirrel was rabid started to scare everyone, so a cop pepper sprayed it. I saw enough of the video to see a hungry and scared young squirrel just looking for help. Nothing it did warranted the fear of rabies. Animal control cleaned it up and released it, hopefully away from people who don’t have any experience with squirrels. Knowledge is not only powering, but generates common sense causing less harm to others. It saddened me to know a great opportunity for the teachers to teach about squirrels was lost and all they taught was fear. Angered they harmed an animal unnecessarily.
Being in nature is my church and I came away feeling spiritually regenerated and grateful for such an incredible opportunity. By the way, you never know when you will receive a gift from nature. On the last day as we were heading towards the airport I took out my lipstick from my purse, opened it up and there stuck to the inner top of it was a feather. I had used this one a few times during the trip and it had always been in my purse. A nice goodbye gift from all my feathered friends I made on the island
Kelly Schneid
505 314-4739
www.kellyschneid.com