Krazy For Kolea Kontest Winners

Nene O Molokai News Release

Each year, Nene O Molokai holds the Krazy For Kolea Kontest, in which residents and visitors record the return of the birds to winter habitats, marking the end of the breeding season. A three-way tie for the first place kolea sighting goes to Moriah, Sarah and Lily Jenkins, who simultaneously observed the first kolea to return to Molokai on July 30, back ‘on territory’ at the Ke Nani Kai. The three sisters will each receive a Kolea Research T-shirt from the Hawaii Audubon Society and a certificate for a free scoop of ice cream at Kamo`i Snack-N-Go.

The kolea or Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva) has one of the longest transoceanic migrations of any of the world’s shorebirds, with some birds flying from breeding grounds in Alaska to winter as far away as Madagascar. In Hawaii, the winter range of the kolea include pastures and cultivated fields, coastal wetlands, golf courses and residential lawns. The kolea spends most of its daylight hours foraging and can be recognized from a distance by its peculiar feeding behavior of run-stop-run.

The second place kolea of Tommy Larson appeared on the Kaluakoi Golf Course at sunset Aug. 3, followed two days later by a kolea reported in Kawela by Caroline Crumpley. Helen VonTempsky reported that her kolea returned to territory Aug. 6 at Kupeke Pond with a leg fractured above the foot. Amputee shorebirds have been known to live normal lives missing one leg or foot.

Fifth place goes to Darrell Rego for his observation of a flock of five kolea on the Ironwood Hills Golf Course on Aug. 7, and sixth place was tied by Bill Feeter and Joe Kitagawa, with a kolea on a forest road on Aug. 8. Two Home Pumehana residents reported a kolea two days apart – Danny Gutierres and Aunty Kapua Templeton, and Chelsea Dudoit reported the tenth place kolea. Mahalo to all the other participants who reported a kolea but didn’t place – there’s always next year!

Krazy For Kolea Kontest Winners should call Arleone at 553-5992 or email researchbirds@yahoo.com to receive their prizes.