On November 26, 1994 I visited the Hanalei Wildlife Refuge on the island of Kauai. It was a nice Saturday afternoon when I got there. However, the road running along the river, where I drove and walked, was a little muddy and wet (there were some puddles also), possibly from the rain that occurred the night before (or maybe even earlier that morning). Also, if you drive about a quarter of a mile down the road, you will see several houses on the right-hand side of the road. I am not sure who lives there, but it could be the houses of the caretakers of the refuge.
Description of the Wetland
This wetland (the Hanalei Wildlife Refuge) is located in the lower Hanalei River Valley, on the north-side of the island of Kauai. It contains cultivated taro fields (two), separated by the Hanalei River. It is also densely covered by tall stands of California grass (Brachiaria Mutica) and great bulrush (Scirpus validus) with mixtures of swamp cyclosorus (Cyclosorus gongylodes) and honohono (Cammelina diffusa). Hanalei Wildlife Refuge is the home for many wildlife birds. Four of its' "residents" are the Hawaiian Coot ('alae ke'o ke'o), Hawaiian Duck (Koloa), Common Moorhen ('alae 'ula), and the Black-Necked Stilt (ae'o), which are all endangered birds of the Hawaiian Islands. (* I should mention that there are restricted areas where we, the public, cannot go/walk. *)
My visit to Hanalei Wildlife Refuge lasted for about an hour or so. While there, I did see a lot of birds (and ducks). In one small section of the taro field, I must have seen over a dozen birds concentrated in that small area. However, I could only identify two of the birds there: 1. the Black-Crowned Night Heron (Auku'u) and the Cattle Egret. (Majority of the birds on that piece of field were Cattle Egrets.) In the river, I did see several Mudhens and on the grass (next to the taro field), I did see some Cardinals and quite a few "duck-like" birds. I don't know what kind of birds they were, but I am pretty sure that they weren't ducks.
Birds weren't all that I saw. When I entered the refuge, I did see a woman and a man catching o'opu in the river. Also, while walking along the river, I did manage to see several fishes (Guppies, I believe.)
The refuge was quite clean. While walking around I did see a soda can in the mud (in one of the section of taro field) and an empty potato chip bag. I also saw and old engine and tire by one of the first "Area Closed" sign. Thus the pollution here was at a minimal. (But it does exist!)
To end my report I would like to say that Hanalei Wildlife Refuge would be a wonderful place to bring your students. You will be able to see many different types of living things, such as fishes, birds, and insects, and also see what a taro plant (and field) looks like up close.
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