Natural History Wanderings

The New York Times reported on how a fence has created a safe haven for the western most part of Oahu.

Humans and the dogs, cats, rats and mongooses that came with along with them had turned Hawaii into the “extinction capital of the world”. Many bird species disappeared, had populations shrink to small numbers or left the Oahu and went to other islands.

Last year a predator-proof fence was built from the north coast to south coast of Oahu protecting the western most spit of the island.  It included an overhang that allowed rats to climb out but not get in.  People had to pass through a two door chamber in which one door won’t open until the other door is closed. The protected areas has been a boon to birds especially the Laysan Albatross and Wedge-shaped Shearwaters that are nesting there. Without rats to eat the seeds the rare native Ohai bush is growing throughout the area.

Read more at:  Birds of Kaena Point, Hawaii, Enjoy a Revival Thanks to a Fence – NYTimes.com.