Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)

Map showing the location of Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

Map of Hawaii

Location Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi, United States
Nearest city Kilauea, Hawaii
Coordinates 22°13′53″N 159°24′07″W / 22.2313°N 159.4019°WCoordinates: 22°13′53″N 159°24′07″W / 22.2313°N 159.4019°W
Area 203 acres (0.82 km2)
Established 1985
Governing body U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
http://www.fws.gov/kilaueapoint/

Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge on the northwest coast of the island of Kauaʻi in Hawaiʻi.[1]

History

Kīlauea Lighthouse was built in 1913. In 1976, the Coast Guard deactivated the lighthouse and replaced it with an automatic beacon. In 1979, the lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.[2]

The refuge was established in 1985 to preserve and enhance seabird nesting colonies after the property was transferred from the United States Coast Guard. In 1988, the refuge was expanded to include Crater Hill and Mōkōlea Point.[3]

Management activities

Management programs protect the seabird nesting habitat and cooperate with the State of Hawaii to monitor the nēnē population and a newly recruited Newell's shearwater population, among other native Hawaiian seabird species. Management efforts are trapping predators, under contract with Wildlife Services; mowing to provide habitat and food sources for nēnē (Branta sandvicensis); and constructing and maintaining fences to keep dogs off the refuge. Predator control and a fence line around the perimeter of the refuge provide baseline protection to breeding seabirds and nēnē. Native and endangered plants are reintroduced and alien species removed. Native coastal plants, such as naupaka (Scaevola spp.), ʻilima (Sida fallax), hala (Pandanus tectorius), ʻāheahea (Chenopodium oahuense), akoko (Euphorbia spp.), have been restored on the refuge. An endangered plant restoration program gives species such as the rare ōlulu (Brighamia insignis) a chance to survive on the point. Habitat management also includes opening and maintaining nesting areas for the recently colonizing Laysan albatross and improving feeding habitat for nēnē.[3]

A volunteer corps of 150 helps in all facets of refuge operations.[3]

Birds of Kilauea Point

Hawaiian goose and Kīlauea Point peninsula in the background
Black-footed albatross - Kilauea Point NWR
The red-footed booby can be seen year-round on Kilauea Point.

Each year, thousands of migratory seabirds use Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge for nesting, foraging, or resting. Laysan albatrosses, red-footed boobies, brown boobies, red-tailed and white-tailed tropicbirds, great frigatebirds, and wedge-tailed shearwaters all visit the refuge. In addition, migratory shorebirds, such as the kōlea, can be seen August through May. A small population of endangered nēnē were reintroduced on the refuge in the 1990s .

Other Wildlife

References

  1. John R. K. Clark (2004). "lookup of Kīlauea Point ". in Hawai'i Place Names: Shores, Beaches, and Surf Sites. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library, University of Hawaii Press. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  2. Larry Miller (August 24, 1974). "Kilauea Point Lighthouse nomination form" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places. U.S. National Park Service. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge". official web site. United States Fish and Wildlife Service. October 18, 2010. Retrieved November 22, 2010.

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

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