Hawaii Time: Birds of Kauai - Kilauea Lighthouse
One of the very first places I “pinned” for our trip to Kauai was this beautiful lighthouse and the wildlife refuge that surrounds it. This is an extremely birdy place in Hawaii, and was not to be missed.
The lighthouse itself is quite beautiful, as are the grounds around it. As a historic lighthouse, it may not shine a beacon of light anymore, but it is a bright spot for any birder who visits.
Kilauea Point is an amazing wildlife refuge. There are birds and birds and more birds here. We saw so many Red-footed Booby’s that I lost count. Great Frigatebirds swirl high overhead, and sometime try to pirate their food from the younger Booby’s. White-tailed and Red-tailed Tropicbirds buzz by. Wedge-tailed Shearwaters soar along the edges of the cliffs, and at the right time of year, tuck their fluffy babies into the bushes and shrubs around the refuge. There are even a few Brown Booby’s around. We missed them completely, but Laysan Albatross come here to nest and raise their young every year, and can be counted on for about 9 months of the year - we went in the small window when those birds are out on the wind and not near land! (So we’ll be going back…)
As you wander the cliff top, the water will likely have some surprises too. Monk Seals, Spinner Dolphins, and Sea Turtles are frequently seen here. We dipped on the dolphins, but did see the seals and turtles in the water!
The Lighthouse keeps specific hours, so if you happen to land here when they are not open - there is a very nice lookout just before the gate. This lookout gives some great views of the lighthouse and the birds flying around in the cove beneath.
This area is just amazing. It’s probably a really fun spot to visit for most anyone, but as a bird nerd - I couldn’t get enough. I went in the morning, went out for lunch, came back for the afternoon, and still came back to visit the pre-entrance lookout again!
The Birds, let’s go!
Red-footed Booby
White-tailed Tropicbird
Red-tailed Tropicbird
Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Great Frigatebird
Brown Booby
Red-crested Cardinal
White-rumped Shama
Nene (Hawaiian Goose)
A Frigatebird and a Juvenile Red-Footed Booby
These two birds were really putting on a show. Flying right over my head, the Frigatebird was doing whatever it could to get some food from the young Booby. The Booby didn’t have any food that I saw, but that didn’t stop the Frigatebird from trying. I looked into this a bit more when we got back to the condo.
Frigatebirds are known for their impressive aerial prowess and agility, which allows them to soar and glide effortlessly for extended periods. Frigatebirds feed mainly on fish, often stealing prey from other seabirds through aerial piracy. They use their big wings and intimidating bill to scare other birds, even to the point of getting a weaker bird to regurgitate their prey during midair skirmishes. Sometimes the frigatebird even bites at the other bird’s tail feathers until it gives up it’s lunch, even from it’s own belly. I witnessed this thievery while this bird chased this young Booby for several minutes!
