Category Archives: Animals

Overlooked and Underappreciated: O`ahu `Amakihi

Posted on April 14, 2023 by Sebastian Marquez

For folks like me who dream of the fantastic extinct creatures of our recent past, I think we tend to overlook the creatures that are still alive today. I know I sometimes do. For all the marveling we do at … Continue reading →

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Snapshot: Philodoria moth

Posted on March 14, 2023 by Sebastian Marquez

I was working up at the site recently when I came upon one of our neat micromoths. This species (possibly Philodoria splendida) uses `Ohi`a Lehua as a host plant. The larva mine the leaves before emerging as these pretty little … Continue reading →

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The Monk Seal babies of Waikiki

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Sebastian Marquez

I had the privilege of seeing the monk seal pups in Waikiki the past few years. Seeing the young seals being raised by their mom adjacent to some of the most highly used shorelines in Hawai`i shows the challenges and … Continue reading →

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Snapshot: Patagonian Mara

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Sebastian Marquez

We tend to look at islands like Hawai’i or New Zealand or Madagascar for extreme examples of adaptive radiation. But of course, they are not the only places to see this. Take, for example, this picture I took at the … Continue reading →

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Snapshot: Another pinoy bird

Posted on December 31, 2014 by Sebastian Marquez

One of several different species of old world orioles in the Philippines, Black-naped Orioles (Oriolus chinensis) is also native in other parts of Southeast Asia and into China and parts of India. I didn’t see it out in the wild … Continue reading →

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Relatives staying for the Holidays

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Sebastian Marquez

As the holidays fast approach, we must honor those grand traditions of putting up decorations, sending out photos of your “antler and sweater” festooned family, and eating all the delicious holiday meals. Most importantly, we must revel in the sudden … Continue reading →

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Snaphot: Hawaiian Avifauna

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Sebastian Marquez

The work by Dr. Helen James and Dr. Storrs Olson has greatly enriched our knowledge of the birds of Hawai’i. I’ve read as many of their *papers as I can. I was surprised to see this awesome mural when I … Continue reading →

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An Afternoon at the National Zoo

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Sebastian Marquez

Back in September, I took a trip to see the National Zoo in Washington D.C. It was my first time there, so I was quite excited to see their collection. Naturally coming from O’ahu, I wanted to compare it to … Continue reading →

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Snapshot: O’ahu ‘Elepaio

Posted on October 26, 2013 by Sebastian Marquez

I had mentioned earlier this year how one of my favorite sights on O’ahu trails was seeing O’ahu ‘Elepaio (Chasiempis ibidis) on Wiliwilinui Ridge trail. Well today, I hiked the Wiliwilinui Ridge trail again, and wouldn’t you know it, another … Continue reading →

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Birds of Hakalau

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Sebastian Marquez

Finally, I was able to cross off something that I’ve wanted to do for a long, long time. Over the weekend, our regular group of Manoa Cliff volunteers was able to help with the Hakalau National Wildlife refuge on the … Continue reading →

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