Maui Birding - Group Tour

Come with us on this group bird watching Maui tour, where we head to Haleakala National Park and Kealia Wildlife Refuge. Join fellow birders, bird lovers, and other wildlife enthusiasts on this specialized excursion and discover the unique species of birds found on the island, learn about their habits and the various ecosystems in which they thrive, as well about their importance in Hawaiian culture and legends. A checklist will be provided for all birds living on Maui, including their Hawaiian names, and you can borrow our binoculars if you didn’t bring your own.

This tour is for all the bird and nature lovers!

On this tour, we start with visiting the summit of Haleakala National Park in search of the endemic Pueo (Hawaiian Short-eared Owl), the Nene (Hawaiian Goose), and the Chukar, as we make our way above the clouds and marvel at the amazing views into the “crater.”

At Hosmer’s Grove, we spend a while looking at our endemic ‘Apapane, ‘I’iwi, ‘Amakihi, and if we’re lucky ‘Alauahio (Maui Creeper), as well as other birds that live in the park.

After a picnic lunch in the park, we head to the Kealia National Wildlife Refuge to find shorebirds and migrants. Local residents include the Black-crown Night Heron, Hawaiian Coots, the elegant Hawaiian Stilts, Wandering Tattlers, and different species of ducks. Depending on the season and our luck, we might find winter-time migrants like the White-faced Ibis, Sandpipers, Long-billed Dowitcher, Ruddy Turnstones, and others.

We will provide a checklist so you can keep track of your progress. On any given day, we can find a total of between 18 and 32 species. Guests will also enjoy complimentary juices, snacks, and a full picnic lunch while learning about the ecology, history, and the myths and legends of Maui.

All levels of birding enthusiasm welcome–from hardcore listers to first-timers!

Note: a minimum of 4 participants is required to run this tour. In the unlikely event this number is not reached on your scheduled tour, we will be in touch to discuss options and either reschedule, convert into a private tour, or cancel with a full refund.

• Please note: It is extremely important to ensure that all shoes and gear are free of potential debris from the Big Island & Kauai in attempts to help stop the spread of the Rapid Ohia death fungus that is killing Ohia Lehua trees.
• Due to the fact our native honeycreepers have been decimated by avian malaria, we have to drive to 7,000 ft elevation to find them. We also drive to the summit of Haleakala for a chance at finding Nene, Pueo, and Chukars (and breathtaking views too!) We do our best to spend as much time as possible at the viewing spots, however, be aware that we have to do a fair amount of driving on this tour.
• Temperatures at Haleakala can be 20-40 degrees cooler than sea level, and the weather is unpredictable, so we recommend bringing a rain jacket and a hoodie.