The Hawaiian petrel, also known as the 'ua'u, is is a large, dark grey-brown and white petrel that is endemic to Hawai’i. To spot the ‘ua’u, look for a bird that will likely be flying near the water which has a dark gray head, wings and tail with a white forehead and belly.
Adult 'ua'u arrive on the islands in April and the female ‘ua’u will lay a single egg in May. Both parents take turns incubating the egg for 60 days and then feed the chick until it leaves the nest in October or November. The 'ua'u are unique birds because they mate for life.
They feed mostly on squid, crustaceans and other fish. They search for food over deep water, and, like many other birds, feed their young through regurgitation. When searching for food, they do not dive into the water like the majority of seabirds. Instead, they capture fish or squid while either sitting on the surface of the water, or just above the surface flapping their wings and pattering the water with their feet.
‘Ua’u have a distinctive call during breeding season that sounds like it’s name: “oo ah oo”. If you are camping or hiking inside Haleakalā National Park, you may hear these birds before you see them. When they are not mating and nesting on the islands, they are flying around the central Pacific Ocean from December to March. The largest known breeding colony of ‘ua’u exists in Haleakalā Crater on Maui and on the summit of Lana’i.
There are many threats that face the ‘ua’u in Hawaii. One of the most common threats is grounding. Groundings occur most often when fledglings first take flight and become disoriented by urban lighting causing them to collide with structures and fall to the ground making it difficult to take flight again.
Another threat is due to the fact that 'ua'u make their nests by burrowing in the ground. Because of this, they are subject to being disturbed by feral species like goats, pigs, axis deer, rats, cats, dogs and mongoose. With no natural defense mechanism against these creatures, the 'ua'u are especially vulnerable.
As a federally endangered seabird, it is essential to preserve their existing habitat around the islands by keeping your distance from nesting burrows and abstaining from releasing any animals into the wild. The petrel can also affected by by environmental changes in its oceanic feeding grounds, which can alter prey availability. Be sure if you ever encounter an 'ua'u to give it space and do not disturb it, and most of all enjoy being close to such a unique bird!
About the Author: Skyline Eco-Adventures is the United States’ Original zipline company. With zipline tours on the islands of Kauai, Maui and the Big Island, Skyline Eco-Adventures has an adventure for every visitor. For more info or to make your reservation today, visit: www.skylinehawaii.com.
Adult 'ua'u arrive on the islands in April and the female ‘ua’u will lay a single egg in May. Both parents take turns incubating the egg for 60 days and then feed the chick until it leaves the nest in October or November. The 'ua'u are unique birds because they mate for life.
They feed mostly on squid, crustaceans and other fish. They search for food over deep water, and, like many other birds, feed their young through regurgitation. When searching for food, they do not dive into the water like the majority of seabirds. Instead, they capture fish or squid while either sitting on the surface of the water, or just above the surface flapping their wings and pattering the water with their feet.
‘Ua’u have a distinctive call during breeding season that sounds like it’s name: “oo ah oo”. If you are camping or hiking inside Haleakalā National Park, you may hear these birds before you see them. When they are not mating and nesting on the islands, they are flying around the central Pacific Ocean from December to March. The largest known breeding colony of ‘ua’u exists in Haleakalā Crater on Maui and on the summit of Lana’i.
There are many threats that face the ‘ua’u in Hawaii. One of the most common threats is grounding. Groundings occur most often when fledglings first take flight and become disoriented by urban lighting causing them to collide with structures and fall to the ground making it difficult to take flight again.
Another threat is due to the fact that 'ua'u make their nests by burrowing in the ground. Because of this, they are subject to being disturbed by feral species like goats, pigs, axis deer, rats, cats, dogs and mongoose. With no natural defense mechanism against these creatures, the 'ua'u are especially vulnerable.
As a federally endangered seabird, it is essential to preserve their existing habitat around the islands by keeping your distance from nesting burrows and abstaining from releasing any animals into the wild. The petrel can also affected by by environmental changes in its oceanic feeding grounds, which can alter prey availability. Be sure if you ever encounter an 'ua'u to give it space and do not disturb it, and most of all enjoy being close to such a unique bird!
About the Author: Skyline Eco-Adventures is the United States’ Original zipline company. With zipline tours on the islands of Kauai, Maui and the Big Island, Skyline Eco-Adventures has an adventure for every visitor. For more info or to make your reservation today, visit: www.skylinehawaii.com.
