SHORELINE APPENDIX: BIRD HABITATS PARK
IN
HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL
The first survey segment from the Kau boundary fence to Punaluu Beach Park was characterized by mainly pahoehoe lava, interrupted briefly by vegetated areas near Kamehame Beach and Punaluu Beach Park. Sea arches punctuated the coastline (Figure 14) and the native coastal strand plants naio (Myoporum sandwicense) and illima (Sida fallax), uncommon in HAVO, grow along this segment. Shorebirds were few in the first half of the survey where only one Pacific Golden Plover was seen. Pacific Golden Plovers (12) and Wandering Tattlers (3) were most common between Palima Point and Kamehame Hill.
Figure 14. Survey segment one, the coastline between the western boundary of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Punaluu Beach Park. K. Schlappa, NPS Photo.
The second survey segment, from the Kau boundary fence to Na Puu o na Elemakule, was comprised mainly of barren unvegetated aa and pahoehoe lava cliffs (Figure 15), which represented poor shorebird habitat. Only six Pacific Golden Plovers were seen along this long segment of sea cliffs topped by sparse sedges, grasses, or portulaca. Wedge-tailed Shearwater bones were found at the top of the lava cliffs along this segment. Despite the miles of cliffs and occasional guano noted on the face of these cliffs, no Black Noddies were seen along this segment (see HAVO Discussion section). Segment two ended at Na Puu o na Elemakule, a littoral cone located where the Kaaha Trail first reaches the ocean below Pepeiao Cabin. This feature is an unconsolidated cinder hill covered mostly with weedy non-native vegetation such as sandbur (Cencrus echinatus) and Desmodium (D. triflorum). Future revegetation of the puu with native plants to anchor the substrate might improve seabird burrowing habitat, if accompanied by predator removal. A small inaccessible cobble beach regularly washed over by waves at the base of the puu appeared from a distance to be suitable shorebird habitat 24
Figure 15. Survey segment two, the coastline between the western boundary of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Na Puu o na Elemakule. R. Swift, NPS Photo.
Survey segment three, from Na Puu o na Elemakule to Kaaha, contained relatively good shorebird habitat during part of the survey near Opihinehe. Wandering Tattlers (2), Pacific Golden Plovers (2), and Ruddy Turnstones (1) used the sloping pahoehoe shoreline, tidepools and overwashed rocks covered with opihi (limpets), crabs, urchins, and algae. during the middle third of the segment at Opihinehe. However, the rest of the survey was relatively low quality habitat for shorebirds. Low pahoehoe cliffs dominated the shoreline for most of the first third of the survey and were not good shorebird habitat. The final third of the survey along low pahoehoe cliffs, covered with cobble, appeared to be unsuitable habitat for shorebirds. It was apparently washed over only during the extreme weather events which transported the cobbles to the top of the cliffs. Even so, Wandering Tattlers (2) and Pacific Golden Plovers (2) were counted along this section. The count was abandoned approximately 1 km west of Kaaha due to lack of water for the observers. Segment four encompassed Kaaha Bay (Figure 16) and the shoreline east to Kalue. The sheltered cove and shallow waters along Kaaha Bay provided good foraging habitat for shorebirds including Wandering Tattlers (1) and Pacific Golden Plovers (4). Some plovers were flushed out of periodically inundated channels where saltwort (Batis maritima) thrived (Figure 17). The sparsely vegetated lava shoreline between Kaaha and Kalue appeared to be adequate habitat for Pacific Golden Plovers; two plovers were seen along that route. One Pacific Golden Plover was noted on the small black sand beach (Figure 18) at Kalue. A large cobbled berm fronted the ocean (Figure 19) but due to the high wave action, the beach berm did not appear to be good shorebird habitat. A brackish seep at Kalue took the form of small pools in the cobble berm. Though Kalue seemed like good habitat, only one Pacific Golden Plover was seen there. Apparent seabird guano was 25
recorded under a rocky overhang southwest of Kalue Beach, but two subsequent checks showed no recent activity.
Figure 16. Kaaha Bay, at the start of survey segment four. R. Swift, NPS Photo.
Figure 17. Periodically inundated areas adjacent to Kaaha Bay. R. Swift, NPS Photo.
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Figure 18. Small black sand beach at Kalue Bay, at the end of survey segment four. K. Turner, NPS Photo.
Figure 19. Steep cobble berm at Kalue Bay, at the end of survey segment four. K. Turner, NPS Photo.
Survey segment five was a short segment extending from Halape Beach to Halape Iki. The small sheltered bay and small sandy beaches of both locations were good shoreline bird habitat (Figures 20 and 21). Three Pacific Golden Plovers and one Wandering Tattler were seen at Halape alone. Both locations also have freshwater cracks with milo (Thespesia and populnea) kou (Cordia subcordata) trees which may attract both shorebirds and introduced passerines. The short segment of coast between Halape Beach and Halape Iki was characterized by low pahoehoe shoreline topped by cobble. One Pacific Golden Plover was seen along this stretch. No shorebirds were seen at Halape Iki, 27
despite its sandy beach and sheltered bay, possibly because of human presence. Halape Iki is a popular and frequently visited camping area.
Figure 20. Small black sand beach at Halape. K. Turner, NPS Photo.
Figure 21. Small sand beach at Halape Iki. R. Swift, NPS Photo.
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The first section of survey segment six, from Halape to Keauhou, was good habitat for Pacific Golden Plovers (2) and Wandering Tattlers (2). This section was characterized by sloping pahoehoe shoreline with a cobble berm on top, changing to low pahoehoe cliffs, and high cliffs topped by grassy lowlands. Along the second half of the segment, after descending the pali, the low pahoehoe shoreline was covered with cobble and boulders, but no shoreline birds were seen until near the sheltered bay at Keauhou (2 Pacific Golden Plovers). The sand beach, tidepools, and anchialine pools of the two adjoining bays at Keauhou are prime habitat for shorebirds including Pacific Golden Plovers (4), Wandering Tattlers (1) and Ruddy Turnstones (2), all of which were noted there (Figure 22). Alien songbirds flocked in the milo trees, surrounding the anchialine pools. The second section of survey segment six, the shoreline between Keauhou Bay and Apua, provided numerous shorebird detections including Pacific Golden Plovers (3), Wandering Tattlers (3), and Ruddy Turnstones (2). Some of the low pahoehoe cliffs along this stretch were covered with cobbles and boulders. In other places, beach berms made up of cobble, pebble, and coral met the ocean (Figure 23). Tidepools, anchialine pools (Figure 24 & 26), and areas with tussocky rushes that appeared to be periodically inundated were found upland of the berm and provided shoreline bird habitat (Figure 25). The large tidepool, small bay and cobble headland at Apua Point provided habitat for Pacific Golden Plovers (4) and Wandering Tattlers (2). The sparsely vegetated naupaka lowlands of Apua Point are used by Pacific Golden Plovers (2).
Figure 22. Shoreline bird habitat at the westernmost of the two bays at Keauhou. R. Swift, NPS Photo.
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Figure 23. Shoreline between Keauhou and Apua Point. R. Swift, NPS Photo.
Figure 24. Anchialine pool between Keauhou and Apua Point. R. Swift, NPS Photo.
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Figure 25. Areas which are apparently periodically inundated behind cobble berm between Keauhou and Apua Point. R. Swift, NPS Photo.
Figure 26. Anchialine pool between Keauhou and Apua Point. Swift, NPS Photo.
The third section of survey segment six, between Apua Point and Chain of Craters Road (Figure 27), provides good shoreline bird habitat from Apua Point to Kahue Point. The low pahoehoe cliffs along this co...