1 Exploring Lyon Arboretum

Aloha! I am ‘I‘iwi.                                                                             

I have other names too such as Scarlet Hawaiian honeycreeper and I am also fondly known as Vestiaria Coccinea to scientists. I am new to Oʻahu. We I’iwi birds live on higher regions on the islands of Hawai‘i (big island), Maui, and Kaua‘i and sometimes in Moloka‘i, O‘ahu, and Lāna‘i. My ancestors used to live in Oʻahu a long time ago.

Do you know the names of the Hawaiian islands? Letʻs see. Try to name the islands before you click on the + hotspots.

Guess the names of the Hawaiʻi Islands

Now I am on Oʻahu island and I am flying over Manoa because my friend told me that there is a beautiful garden here and that it’s called the Lyon Arboretum. My friend moved in some days ago and wished that I too move into Manoa valley. It is very important for us I’iwis to protect ourselves because our habitat  is shrinking. This is because of non-native plants, animals, insects, and diseases. Thanks to scientists who are looking for ways to protect us and other plants and animals that are native to Hawai’i, we feel safe. 

Do you know how to identify me?

My coat is bright reddish-orange in color and I have a long curved bill. My wingtips and tail tips are Black in color with a patch of white. Like my beak, my legs and claws are Salmon Pink too. My eyes are black. Isn’t it easy to identify I’iwi birds?

Everyone says that I have a sweet voice. My songs include creaks, whistles, gurgles, and reedy notes. My mom says that I sometimes make some horrible sounds like a rusty harmonica or a rusty-hinge. You know I can make human-like whistling sounds and imitate native birds. That is not all….my wings can make gentle sounds when I am in flight mode.

Look at my picture below. Hear me sing by clicking the video play button.

 I forgot to add, I am about 5”- 6” long ( 5 inches to 6 inches).

Many of my family, friends, and relatives live in Hossmer’s Grove in Haleakalā National Park and at Polipoli Spring State Recreational Park on Maui. 

Now I am hungry. I’ve been flying over Manoa valley all day and watching busy humans running about.  I am going to look for nectar. I love nectar from the flowers of the the ‘ōhi‘a-lehua, mamane, and Hawaiian lobelioids. These flowers are are curved just like my bill.  My bill helps me survive in Hawaiʻi’s native forests.

What is that flash of bright Green?

It is my beautiful friend, an ‘Amakihi bird who is native to Oahu. ʻAmakihi invited me to this beautiful garden.  I am excited to meet ʻAmakihi and all other beautiful birds.

Aloha! I am here.

ʻAmakihi looks smart in his bright Yellow-Green coat and his short down curved beak.

ʻAmakihi is calling out to me. I am going on a sightseeing trip around this beautiful garden and with ʻAmakihi’s help will look for a nice place to make my nest.

I am following behind ʻAmakihi and enjoying the gentle breeze against my wings.

Do you want to join us? See the picture below. Yes, you are going to start a tour of the beautiful landscape I am going to explore.

Virtual Tour of the Lyon Arboretum

• To navigate through the virtual tours, please:
  • click on the box in the upper right hand corner to go to full screen mode.
  • click and drag your mouse to navigate.
  • click the arrows to move up or down the path.
  • click on the plus signs to learn more

We are flying right above you…….

Creativity Corner 

Do you want to try your hands at some art work? Please ask your teacher for pictures to color. You could make greeting cards, stickers, and buttons too. The exciting part is, you could use the beautiful art you created to raise funds to conserve little birds and animals like me, and not to forget the beautiful plants.

See you all tomorrow. It’s time for my nap. 

To follow our adventures, click here to go to the Buddha Path.

Resources:

• I’iwi bird sound – https://xeno-canto.org/27366
• Images -Pixabay.com
• www.mauiforestbirds.org
• To know more about me and other native birds visit www.mauiforestbirds.org.