Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

We visit the Kilauea Point Refuge with each set of folks who visit us. It gives a chance to use our National Parks admit these old folks card and to try to take photos of the birds. I bring my camera with the telephoto lens. Trying to capture a usable image while birds are in flight is difficult. First you have to find them through the view finder and then try to capture an image while following. Focus in a challenge. My camera will try to focus automatically but that takes a second. If you focus on the horizon and then try to get a photo it works reasonable well if the bird is far away. If you have ever tried pass shooting ducks, you might have a feel for what skills are involved. The refuge folks would likely be shocked that I used this comparison. 

Great Frigate Bird

Red Footed Booby

Hillside with nesting birds - this is as close as visitors are allowed

Special fencing surrounding the refuge with a fine mesh to prevent cats and hogs from getting at the nesting birds. The fence is dug into the ground and the surrounding vegetation must constantly be cut to prevent the use of the vegetation to scale the fence (see previous posts about biomass).

Sign that must be funny to birders