Last Week's Big Island Trip

 

Flew to the Big Island last Wednesday to scope out future data collection sites and do some data collection.  I am in the process of uploading some of the audio samples for analysis and hope to share them within the next few days!  In the meantime, here are some highlights from my trip in photo form, starting with my view Thursday morning above.

 

After seeing that some of the suburban parks nearby were probably too small to have my favorite inhabitants, I drove to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park (yes, in this HUGE jeep).  As soon as I got out of the car, I saw my first Hawaiian honeycreeper in real life, the 'apapane!

 

He had a very pretty song, but wasn't particularly fond of being photographed...

 

 

Before driving out to the lava flows to take some data samples, we walked around the Jager Museum, and I managed to see some Japanese White Eyes and male House Sparrows in the parking lot using some creative foraging strategies...

 

No fear, this little guy.

 

 

I've never seen Sparrows do this, but you have to admit it was clever!

 

Here I had a friend and recent donor to the project snap a few photos of me sampling songs within the old lava flows.  I could hear Northern Cardinals farther in the forest!

 

Overall, it was a great trip and I can't wait to head back to get more data...and maybe hop over to Maui as well!

I hope you all had a great weekend. Thanks to you all, we are <$400 away from our goal and there are 4 bags of Birds and Beans coffee still left to be claimed for those that pledge $75+. 

We have ONLY three days left, so if you can share the project or feel compelled to contribute, I would sincerely appreciate it!