This past decade has seen gradual but shape-shifting changes to the Hawaiian CBCs. Until recently, three count circles in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands would annually report on the seabird spectacle there as well as much anticipated sightings of rare vagrants from Siberia and Alaska. But with the withdrawal of the Fish and Wildlife Service from their bases on Laysan Island and French Frigate Shoals, the only CBC circle that remains in the leeward islands is Midway. Besides Midway, another seabird refuge, Johnston Atoll south of Hawai`i, was added as a count circle eight years ago. Despite the loss of count circles in the remote islands, there are now four new count circles, or re-established ones, available to participants in the main Hawaiian Islands. The Lana`i City circle began in 2010 and Kaho`olawe circle in 2011, and this year saw the inauguration of the Hana circle, thanks to Sonny Gamponia, and Hilo circle, mahalo Sherman Wing -- expanding coverage on Maui and Hawai`i islands, respectively. Data from the new counts have resulted from the greater coverage in the islands this year.
Notable high counts for tropical seabirds for CBC117 included 2752 Red-footed Boobies at Kilauea Lighthouse, Kapa`a circle, Kaua`i; 48 White Terns in Honolulu, where the species has been increasing; and 44 Great Frigatebirds on the Hana, Maui circle. A Gray-backed Tern, a pelagic species rarely seen from shore, was reported from the Waimea, Kaua`i count, while a Black-footed Albatross was unusual for the Kapa`a circle. A vagrant Mew Gull on Midway was another lucky find.
With ample rainfall in the State this year, the Kapa`a circle reported high counts for most native waterbirds: 354 Nene, 429 Hawaiian Coot, and 336 Hawaiian Black-necked Stilt. The tally of 103 Hawaiian Common Gallinule on the Honolulu circle was exceptionally high. An influx of migrant Snow Geese this winter is reflected in the five birds reported from the `Iao circle, Maui, and six from Hilo. Other notable migrant waterbirds included: a Tundra Swan and 19 American Wigeon on the Kapa`a circle; three Buffleheads for Honolulu; a handsome male Eurasian Green-winged Teal from Moloka`i, and four Canvasbacks in Hilo.
There are few exceptional migratory shorebirds to report this year. Forty Bristle-thighed Curlews on Johnston Atoll was a record number. Two Asian vagrants were a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper on the Waimea Circle and a Marsh Sandpiper on Moloka`i. Of the three Belted Kingfishers overwintering on the Big Island this season, one showed up on the Hilo count.
Counts of native Hawaiian forest birds were dismally low this year; warm weather and perhaps increase in avian disease may be to blame. For example, only five `Akiapola`au were counted on the Volcano circle.
Exotic bird species continue to expand across the State, marked by these high counts:
five Kalij Pheasants in the Wai`anae Mountains on the Waipi`o circle, O`ahu; 35 Mourning Doves and 36 Rose-ring Parakeets also at Waipi`o; 36 Red-masked Parakeets in Honolulu and 27 more in N Kona; 12 Rosy-faced Lovebirds on the `Iao circle and six on the Haleakala circle, both circles covering central Maui, where this recently established species has been reported abundantly (eBird); six White-rumped Shamas on Lana`i; and14 Saffron Finches on the Waimea Circle. The record count of 1414 Common Waxbills was reported from Honolulu this year, and on the Big Island big recent gains in waxbills were the 384 counted in N Kona, 101 in Hilo, and six in Volcano, Hawai`i Island.
Unusual reports in the Mariana Islands this year were high counts of 35 Northern Pintail on the Dededo, Guam circle and 34 on the Saipan circle; two Common Pochards on Saipan; and a high count of 20 Common Moorhen on the Dededo circle. Two notable shorebird species were reported from Saipan: six Marsh Sandpipers and a Greater Yellowlegs, a new species for this CBC region.