Manu Minute

Move over, plover — there’s a new shorebird in town. Thanks to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, we’ve got the song of the ˊŪlili for you! These indigenous birds recently packed up for the long flight across the Pacific for their mating season, but they’ll be back in August. In today’s Manu Minute, University of Hawaii at Hilo professor Patrick Hart tells us how to keep an eye out for the ˊŪlili when they return.

Boobies are a group of goose-size tropical seabirds with long pointed bills, wings, and tails. There are three species of boobies that nest in Hawai‘i—the red-footed, brown, and masked.

Boobies are a group of goose-size tropical seabirds with long pointed bills, wings, and tails. There are three species of boobies that nest in Hawai‘i—the red-footed, brown, and masked.

Have you ever noticed those flocks of finches with bright red eye-masks hanging out in grassy fields? This week, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo professor Patrick Hart introduces you to the tiny waxbill...common but very eye-catching. This Manu Minute was made with field recordings from the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.

Have you ever noticed those flocks of finches with bright red eye-masks hanging out in grassy fields? This week, University of Hawaii at Hilo professor Patrick Hart introduces you to the tiny waxbill... common but very eye-catching. This Manu Minute was made with field recordings from the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

The streets of Downtown Honolulu might not be the first place you'd think to bird watch, but at least one very special bird calls this city home: the indigenous manu-o-Kū, also known as the white tern. Today's Manu Minute was made with recordings from the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.

The streets of Downtown Honolulu might not be the first place you'd think to bird watch, but at least one very special bird calls this city home: the indigenous manu-o-Kū, also known as the white tern. Today's Manu Minute was made with recordings from the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Saffron finches are native to South America and were introduced to the islands around 1965. Special thanks to the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for today's field recordings.

Saffron finches are native to South America and were introduced to the islands around 1965. Special thanks to the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for today's field recordings.

ʻAukuʻu like a hardy meal. They are keen foragers and will hunt fish, insects, frogs, mice, and even young water bird chicks. Scientists have also observed ʻaukuʻu exhibit a clever form of "tool use"; if night herons are in busy areas where people feed ducks bread, they will often take pieces of bread and lure in the fish with the “bait.” Special thanks to the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.