Acoustic Ecology of Hawaiian Forest Birds

Singing ‘ōma‘o (Hawaiian thrush). Photo credit: Ann Tanimoto Johnson

Matinée Presentation:

Acoustic communication is incredibly important to forest birds:  It plays a major role in how they choose mates, maintain territories, find food (and each other) … and avoid being eaten!  Until recently, however, very little was known about the complexity of acoustic communication for most forest birds in Hawai‘i.  Dr. Patrick Hart, of UH-Hilo’s Department of Biology, visits the Lyman Museum to review the diversity of songs and calls of many of the native birds of Hawai‘i Island, using spectrograms, or “sound pictures,” that demonstrate both the beauty and the variability of their vocalizations.  He also discusses some of the exciting findings being made by faculty and student researchers in the UH-Hilo Listening Observatory for Hawaiian Ecosystems (LOHE) Bioacoustics Laboratory.  Listen, and learn more about this fascinating field on your choice of two occasions:  Monday evening, June 7, or the following afternoon, June 8.  

Admission to these wonderful programs is free to Museum members, and $3.00 for nonmembers.  Owing to COVID-19 safety restrictions, masks that meet CDC guidelines must be worn and physical distancing observed.  Temperature checks will be made before you enter the Museum. Seating is therefore very limited; you must reserve your seat/s in advance by calling during business hours, and must check in at the front desk prior to the presentation.  Check-in begins at 6:30PM Monday evening, 2:30PM Tuesday afternoon.  First called, first reserved!  ON MONDAY EVENINGS ONLY, additional parking is available next door at Hilo Union School, Kapiolani St. entrance; park, then walk through our green gate in the rock wall.  E komo mai! 

Please support the Museum by becoming a member, and enjoy all Saigo Series programs, all year round, at no charge!