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ISLET FIELD ACCOUNTS
Follow the interns and volunteers through their work on the offshore islets. Click on the photos to link to a photo gallery for each visit.

> 19 Feb 2007: Moku'au'ia (Goat Island), O'ahu
> 29 Feb 2007: Mokulua, O'ahu
> 28 Mar 2007: Kaohikaipu (Black Rock), O'ahu
> 2-3 April 2007: Po'opo'o, Lana'i
> 2-3 April 2007: Pu'u pehe (Sweetheart Rock), Lana'i
> 5 Apr and 7 Apr 2007: Moku'au'ia (Goat Island), O'ahu
> 5-7 Apr 2007: Mokoli'i (Chinaman's Hat), O'ahu
> 29 Apr 2007: Kapapa (Mokukapapa), O'ahu
> 3-4 May 2007: Lehua, Kaua'i and Ni'ihau
> 9 May 2007: Moku'au'ia (Goat Island), O'ahu
> 12 May 2007: Mokoli'i (Chinaman's Hat), O'ahu
> 29-31 May 2007: Molokini, Maui
> 29-31 May 2007: Kaemi, Maui
> 29-31 May 2007: Hulu, Maui
> 1 Jun 2007: Moku'au'ia (Goat Island), O'ahu
> 8 Jun 2007: Moku'au'ia (Goat Island), O'ahu
> 15 Jun 2007: Moku'au'ia (Goat Island), O'ahu
> 22 Jun 2007: Moku'au'ia (Goat Island), O'ahu
> 29 Jun 2007: Moku'au'ia (Goat Island), O'ahu
> 6 Jul 2007: Moku'au'ia (Goat Island), O'ahu
> 18 Jul 2007: Moku'au'ia (Goat Island), O'ahu
> 24 Jul 2007: Moku'au'ia (Goat Island), O'ahu
> 31 Jul 2007: Moku'au'ia (Goat Island), O'ahu
> 7 Aug and 30 Aug 2007: Kapapa (Mokukapapa), O'ahu
> 7 Aug and 30 Aug 2007: Kaohikaipu (Black Rock), O'ahu
> 8 Aug 2007: Moku'au'ia (Goat Island), O'ahu
> 17 Aug 2007: Moku'au'ia (Goat Island), O'ahu
> 17 Aug 2007: Mokoli'i (Chinaman's Hat), O'ahu
> 24 Aug 2007: Moku'au'ia (Goat Island), O'ahu
> 8 Sep 2007: Mokauea, O'ahu
> 10 Sep 2007: Moku'ae'ae, Kaua'i and Ni'ihau
> 18-20 Sep 2007: Mokapu, Moloka'i
> 18-20 Sep 2007: 'Okala, Moloka'i
> 21 Sep 2007: Mokoli'i (Chinaman's Hat), O'ahu
> 22 Sep 2007: Moku'au'ia (Goat Island), O'ahu
> 24 Sep 2007: Kaohikaipu (Black Rock), O'ahu
> 24 Sep 2007: Manana (Rabbit Island), O'ahu
> 14-16 Oct 2007: Mokoli'i (Chinaman's Hat), O'ahu
> 17 Oct 2007: Popo'ia (Flat Island), O'ahu
> 20-21 Oct 2007: Kapapa (Mokukapapa), O'ahu
> 25 Oct 2007: Moke'ehia, Maui
> 26 Oct 2007: Mokupipi, Maui
> 27 Oct 2007: Pu'uku (Pu'uki'i), Maui
> 1 Nov 2007: Po'opo'o, Lana'i
> 1 Nov 2007: Moku mana, Maui
> 2 Nov 2007: Pu'u pehe (Sweetheart Rock), Lana'i
> 2 Nov 2007: Ki'ei, Lana'i
> 10 Nov 2007: Mokauea, O'ahu
> 1-2 Dec 2007: Kaohikaipu (Black Rock), O'ahu
> 9 Feb and Feb 11 2008: Manana (Rabbit Island), O'ahu
> 15 Feb 2008: Mokuho'oniki, Moloka'i
> 16 Feb 2008: Moku manu, Moloka'i
> 16 Feb 2008: Kanaha, Moloka'i
> 19 Mar 2008: 'Alau, Maui
> 20 Mar 2008: Mokuhuki, Maui
> 26 Mar 2008: 'Ale'ale, Kaho'olawe
> 26 Mar 2008: Pu'u koa'e, Kaho'olawe
Moku'au'ia (Goat Island)   17 Aug 2007

Trip Goal: To assist DOFAW biologists in an attempt to eradicate Yellow Crazy Ants from the islet using Mokoli'i Islet as a control (no bait used). Using the results of our bait preference trials, a new bait was made specifically for controlling Yellow Crazy Ants in Hawai'i. This ant species has disrupted seabird colonies and ecosystems elsewhere in Hawai'i and around the tropics, but eradication has been troublesome. A successful eradication on Moku'auia would be great step in restoring these fragile island ecosystems to their natural state.

Accomplishments: Over the course of 3 months, we completed 2 ant bait applications and conducted intensive monitoring of the ant and seabird populations. We were able to significantly reduce ant numbers, but not eradicate them entirely. However, as a result of our experiment, seabirds were able to survive and successfully hatch chicks on the island. No seabird chicks survived on our control islet (Mokoli'i), where ant bait was not applied. More importantly, we have learned from the project and will readjust the bait amounts and timing and will hopefully eradicate the ants soon.
Moku'au'ia
Photo Gallery

Biologist Account: Heather:
"We were a bit nervous to see how the shearwater eggs had fared over the past week. The majority should have hatched at this stage, so we checked the birds flagged earlier to determine the fate of their nest. A couple of eggs that had been laid in open areas hatched, but disappeared. We saw a flock of Cattle Egrets skulking about the island and think they may have been the culprits. Several eggs started to pip (the chick starts breaking the shell in an attempt to hatch), but didn’t survive. All that remained of one egg was feathers and a skeleton – the contents being consumed by fly larvae, roaches and ants. A bit distressing as you can imagine. We saw many eggs that had died in the process of pipping. However, I’m happy to report that the majority of chicks were alive and well (and fluffy). Since we spread the bait last May, ant numbers have declined dramatically. Although ant numbers are still high in parts of the island, the overall decrease in ants has allowed most chicks to hatch. I don’t think there would be chicks on the island if we had not applied the bait."