Battle of the Titans


Introduction

I lurk about the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge early mornings on days when the wind is slack and the sky is blue. The part of the Park I visit is an abandoned Cat Fish farm with dikes separating ponds from the rest of the wetlands. I discovered the place in the middle of a severe drought and the Rangers were pumping water to keep the wild life going. Since the ponds were the only source of water hundreds of rare and endangered birds were concentrated in one area and I had the ability to take their snapshots with my inexpensive underpowered camera equipment.

It’s always been a challenge because in telephoto mode the images produced were marred by noise if the film speed settings were to high and/or blurry because the lens is slow. Another issue is that there is major shutter lag and then it takes seconds for the camera to write to the memory chip. The camera is fine for taking snapshots of plants because they don’t move to fast. You would think that with photoshop you could bend any image to acceptable appearance but, even though I shoot in Raw, chromatic aberration becomes an issue. Consequently Shooting birds and surfing is a challenge but it’s really fun trying to get good stuff (not to mention the locations are incredibly beautiful) and when I succeed in getting something interesting it’s really satisfying. Also we have crazy good light on Maui otherwise I wouldn’t have a chance.

On the last visit to the Ponds before I took the pictures in the gallery above I was surprised to have been buzzed by an Aeo right after getting out of car. These birds mostly just gracefully lounge around feeding off the bottom of the pond and are extremely furtive, flushing at any approach, and here was one coming at me! This time of year the dikes are closed off because the there are nesting birds and only the parking lot has been available. I was so startled by that bird flying over me that I couldn’t even point the camera much less get an action photo. After this first encounter there was no more activity but I kind of got close to some Coots so I decided to keep at it, early morning visits, and maybe between the absence of normal traffic and nesting birds I would get a opportunity to grab an interesting image.

The Battle

This was the setting: a little after 7am with the first direct light peaking over Haleakala. No action: placid almost glassy water and serene birds. The dikes still closed off I just strolled to the edge of the parking lot next to a pond and took some snapshots of Aeo feeding. Then one started to make noise and then all hell broke loose. A pair of birds starting swooping with their pink legs extended. Finally a very immature heron staggered out of the brush. I don’t know if he aimed to do some damage, like gobbling down a stilt chick or eating eggs, or he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The stilts mobbed him, and he made BEEG noise, I’d never heard a heron make any sound. It was a kind of goose hiss but higher pitched. I’d never seen these different varieties of birds do anything but silently, peacefully, and stealthily coexist with the other birds in the ponds.

It was quite comical: with pink legs the Aeo were like Nazis in drag. At the same time the scene was cartoon because the heron has bright yellow legs so it was more like Roger Rabbit then wild kingdom. Herons tend to saunter around slowly until they find a likely spot to fish and then freeze, as in petrified bird. But this one had to keep moving so as not to get beat up to bad. All of a sudden he looked up and saw me and came over for my protection. This was the first time a heron ever came towards me –they are normally just as furtive as the Aeo, flushing or at least ambling away at any close approach so I have dozens of shots of herons ass’s. It was like “hey, buddy pal friend, make them stop beating on me,” and it worked, the Nazis stopped bothering him. He took a breath, looked around, and flew off to a safer part of the 450 acre park.

RSS HI AG Employment

  • Junior Extension Agent (Livestock, Hawai'i County) (#85516T)
    Ag Jobs. Hawaii, Hilo Location : Hilo, HIJob Type: Full-Time TemporaryJob Number: 2024-00753Department: University of Hawai'i at Manoa - College of Tropical Agriculture and Human ResourcesDivision: Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal SciencesOpening Date: 03/25/2024Closing... Salary: $salary. Date posted: 04/19/2024
  • Farm Maintenance - Captain Cook
    Ag Jobs. Hawaii, Captain Cook Benefits: Medical, Vision, Dental, 401K, Life Insurance, Health Savings Account, and Costco Membership ReimbursementHere at San Francisco Bay Coffee, our mission is to cultivate unrivaled quality, strong partnerships and sustainable... Salary: $salary. Date posted: 04/13/2024
  • Food Processing Staff
    Ag Jobs. Hawaii, Honolulu Koha Foods is one of Hawaii's largest Asian and specialty food distributors supplying local vendors, restaurants, supermarkets and other stores with a wide array of food items and products, including... Salary: $salary. Date posted: 03/28/2024
  • Assistant Extension Specialist (Agricultural Economics) (#85336)
    Ag Jobs. Hawaii, Hilo Location : Hilo, HIJob Type: Full-Time PermanentJob Number: 2024-00755Department: University of Hawai'i at Manoa - College of Tropical Agriculture and Human ResourcesDivision: Natural Resources and Environmental ManagementOpening Date: 03/28/2024Closing Date:... Salary: $salary. Date posted: 03/30/2024
  • Research Assistant - Agronomy
    Ag Jobs. Hawaii, Waimea DescriptionWho We Are and What We Do:At Corteva Agriscience, you will help us grow what's next. No matter your role, you will be part of a team that is building... Salary: $salary. Date posted: 03/30/2024
  • Kitchen Support Worker - Smoothie (S) Food Production - Kitchen, 19hrs, TBD
    Ag Jobs. Hawaii Students may only have 5 open job applications at a time.Department NameFood Production - KitchenPosition ScopePrepping food for the line.Cleans kitchen surfaces, equipment, walls and floors.Wash pots, pans and other... Salary: $salary. Date posted: 04/01/2024
  • Senior Operations Manager
    Bayer. Hawaii, Kihei At Bayer we’re visionaries, driven to solve the world’s toughest challenges and striving for a world where 'Health for all Hunger for none’ is no longer a dream, but a... Salary: $salary. Date posted: 04/02/2024
  • Soil Conservationist (District Conservationist)
    Ag Jobs. Hawaii, Kahului SummaryAssists the Conservation District(s) in the managerial unit, consisting of one or more counties or districts in the development of a comprehensive natural resources conservation program. Performs expert professional duties... Salary: $salary. Date posted: 04/04/2024
  • Soil Conservationist
    Ag Jobs. Hawaii, Hilo SummaryThis position is located in USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The incumbent assists the District Conservationist in developing and carrying out a coordinated natural resources conservation program tailored to customers'... Salary: $salary. Date posted: 04/05/2024
  • Health, Safety, and Enviromental Specialist
    Bayer. Hawaii, Kunia At Bayer we’re visionaries, driven to solve the world’s toughest challenges and striving for a world where 'Health for all Hunger for none’ is no longer a dream, but a... Salary: $salary. Date posted: 04/09/2024
  • Diversified Agriculture Technician
    Ag Jobs. Hawaii Join a company that is involved in many diverse operations in one of the most beautiful places in Hawai'i. Kualoa Ranch Hawai'i has enjoyed a proud past and looks forward... Salary: $salary. Date posted: 04/10/2024
  • Internship in Sustainable Agriculture & Community Outreach
    Ag Jobs. Hawaii, Waimea ABOUT US:The mission of (HPA) is to provide exceptional learning opportunities in a diverse community honoring the traditions of Hawaii. Our work is grounded in HPA's Core Values of Integrity,... Salary: $salary. Date posted: 04/10/2024
  • Farm Gardener
    Ag Jobs. Hawaii, Koloa THE CLUB AT KUKUI`ULAOur name "Kukui`ula" is the place name of our location on Kauai's southern shore, near world-famous Poipu Beach. Kukui`ula comes from two Hawaiian words: kukui, or candlenut... Salary: $salary. Date posted: 04/10/2024
  • Sous Chef - Farm to Table Island Cuisine
    Ag Jobs. Hawaii 10th April, 2024Location - Kapolei, Oahu, HI Salary - $60-70k Benefits - MDV, 401k, paid vacation Qualifications Must be okay with covering tattoos and clean shaven (mustaches are okay) Ability... Salary: $salary. Date posted: 04/12/2024
  • Lecturer, CC (Agriculture)
    Ag Jobs. Hawaii Salary: $0.00 Semi-MonthlyLocation : Hawai'i Community College - Various Locations, HIJob Type: Part-Time TemporaryJob Number: 2024-00152Department: Hawai'i Community College - Career and Technical EducationDivision: AgricultureOpening Date: 01/31/2024Closing Date: ContinuousPosition Number::... Salary: $salary. Date posted: 04/13/2024
  • AGRICULTURAL LOAN ADMINISTRATOR - DOWNTOWN, OAHU
    Ag Jobs. Hawaii Salary: See Position DescriptionLocation : Island of OahuJob Type: VariousJob Number: 24-0071Department: AgricultureOpening Date: 02/24/2024Closing Date: ContinuousRecruitment Information Recruitment Number 24-0071- This position heads the Agricultural Loan Division for the... Salary: $salary. Date posted: 04/14/2024