What: Nesting White Tern Monitoring Training
When: 1-2PM, Saturday February 15, 2020
Where: Under huge tree on the Ewa/makai corner of the State Ag Annex lot at Keeaumoku and S King streets

Come learn how you can help us monitor the growing number of nesting white terns using the latest version of the data collection tools we've developed. We'll meet Saturday, February 15, at 1:00 under the huge tree in the Ewa/makai corner of the park area at the state Agriculture Annex at the intersection of Keeaumoku and S King streets. It'll take about an hour to get you set up with the app and to go over the basics of how to document observations of white tern breeding activity. Please RSVP by texting 808-379-7555.

​This map shows the locations of the trees with the 500+ nesting spots we want to check during the month of December. Each of these nesting spots was either used for at least three of the past 5 years, or is currently occupied by an egg or a chick. Each month we document the nesting status for over 1,200 nesting spots across the breeding range but these are the ones we want to focus on this month. You can help us meet this goal by visiting one or more of these trees and reporting to us what you see. You can download the map to your computer, tablet or smartphone by clicking on the link below and opening the file using either Google Earth or Google Maps. Red pins indicate that there was an egg or a chick in one of the nesting spots in that particular tree when they were surveyed in November. Click on a pin to see how many nesting spots we’re requesting help monitoring in that particular tree. Then click on the link for each nesting spot to see a photo showing its location in the tree. To record your observation simply click on the “Submit observation” link at the bottom of the pop-up window, noting the Nest ID for the nesting spot (WK4801 for example). Enter the date, your name and email address, and the Nest ID and then select from the options for Nesting Status and Behaviors Observed from the drop down menus. Minimally we want to know if, during your visit, the nesting spot had an adult sitting in the nesting spot, if there was a chick there, or if it was empty/vacant. Any additional details you can provide on what you saw by selecting from the Behaviors Observed or by entering them in the Notes window will by appreciated. You can also attach a photo of what you see to the form. That’s it!

The pins on the map mark the location of the trees and clicking on the photo for the nesting spot will display a picture of the tree with the nesting spot circled.  Most of the trees with eggs or chicks will have a blue ribbon to help you locate them. Your help in collecting data on these nesting spots will be much appreciated! Feel free to email questions to us at huimanuoku@gmail.com.

Mahalo!

Have you been thinking that maybe you’d like to learn more about what’s involved with rescuing white tern chicks that fall from the trees? Maybe you’ve wondered if there was something you could be do to be part of helping to reunite them with their parents. We’re going to be offering a couple of sessions over the next few weeks to provide an orientation to what happens after a call comes in to the Hui Manu o Ku hotline reporting a fallen white tern chick. We’ll describe the process and protocols we follow to attempt to reunite chicks with their parents and demonstrate some of the tools and techniques we use.  And we’ll help those who are interested to identify specific ways they can become part of the effort to rescue terns in need.  

The first orientation session will take place this Saturday, August 10. We’ll meet under the big banyan behind the Iolani Palace at 9:00 and should be finished by 10:30. Please RSVP by calling or texting 808-379-7555 to receive your spot.