Volunteers Restore Critical Habitat

November 15, 2006

Every Friday morning, volunteers from across Maui are working to help restore critical habitat for wetland birds, insects and plants at the Waihe`e Coastal Dunes and Wetlands Refuge, Maui's third largest wetlands. Additional participants are welcome.

Protected bird species which will benefit from wetlands restoration include the Ae`o (Hawaiian stilt), ('Alae ke'o ke'o (Hawaiian coot), ('Auku'u (black crowned night heron) and `Ua`ukani, (wedgetail shearwater), according to Scott Fisher, project manager for the refuge.

The wetlands are also home to native Hawaiian plants such as Ahuawa, Kaluha, and Akulikuli as well as the endangered Blackburn sphinx moth.

Volunteers are asked to wear sturdy shoes and to bring hat, water and sunscreen to the Refuge's Roundtable area by 8 a.m. Work will be done by noon.

For directions to Round Table or additional information, call the land trust at 244-5263 or visit mauicoastallandtrust.org.