Last week, DLNR Chair Suzanne Case, presented the Hawaiʻi Wildlife Center with a DLNR & YOU Citizen Conservationist Award.

In a statement Case said, “Though the wildlife center is on Hawai‘i Island, injured birds come from all the other main islands. Each year, from O‘ahu alone, HWC responds to 600-700 Wedgetail shearwaters, with those needing longer-term care being flown to the main Kap‘au facility for assessments, rehabilitation if necessary, and release.

The center is currently treating an average of 20 to 30 patients a day. Many of the injured birds and bats that arrive were hurt by things people created, like golf balls, power lines, cars, guns and poisons. Cats, dogs, mongoose and rats also threaten the forest birds and seabirds.

In addition to the hospital building and visitor information exhibits, the grounds have numerous aviaries. In one is three-year-old Maka‘io, a native Hawaiian hawk (i‘o). He arrived at HWC with an eye injury and a wing injury. The wing healed, but he’s blind in the right eye.

HWC President Elliott notes that last year 88% of the birds and bats the center cared for were either released or are in permanent care. “In wildlife rehabilitation, typically success rates can be around 50%. It depends on the health of the animal. The sooner it’s found, the sooner we get it into care, the better the prognosis.”

DLNR Photo