All of these were photographed on the Big Island of Hawaii during a 9 day visit in November, 2009. With the exception of the Apapane and Pueo, all other birds shown are imported from all over the world. From North America came the House Finch, Northern Cardinal and Northern Mockingbird. The Grey Francolin and Kalij Pheasant are from India, the Japanese White-eye is from Japan and South-East Asia, the Java Sparrow is from Indonesia, the two Doves are from South-East Asia, and South America is well represented by the Saffron Finch, Yellow-billed Cardinal and Yellow-fronted Canary. The Warbling Silverbill is an African bird. Captain Vancouver presented King Kamehameha I with Wild Turkeys from North America. These were freed by the King on the Big Island and he banned hunting them so that they could establish themselves.

The Pacific Golden Plover breeds in Alaska and winters in Hawaii, and elsewhere in the world. As a child in Kuala Lumpur, I remember quite large flocks of them spending the winter months in the middle of a race-horse track. Today, that piece of turf has been replaced by the Twin Towers.

The native Hawaiian birds have diminished greatly, and this is well known. The ones remaining on the Big Island are mostly found in forests above 3,000 feet; I realised quickly that a great deal of luck and patience would be required to photograph them nicely. I managed to photograph the Pueo or Hawaiian Short-eared Owl, but I had the wrong lens with me. I managed to see the Apapane and Hawaii Amakihi at the Volcano National Park, and I have added the Apapane here as a very poor record shot - until my next visit when I hope I shall have much more time to really track them down.

Aloha!