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Honolulu Zoo bird keeper introduces keiki to Hawaii’s native birds

Taking care of birds at the Honolulu Zoo, author and illustrator Katie Tobin has released a new children's book, "P Is for Pueo: A Hawaiian Alphabet Book," designed to inspire a love of nature.

Highlighting 12 native birds from the tiny ʻanianiau to Hawaii's nēnē goose, she plans to donate all proceeds to the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project to support its work with the native crow ʻAlalā Project.

"They're incredible birds, and I feel like it's the least I can do," said Tobin.

A self-proclaimed "bird nerd from day one," Tobin said, "I've always been really fascinated by them. I grew up in a house of birds, had parrots at home from the age of 5 all the way through adulthood, and I'm currently a bird keeper at the Honolulu Zoo."

Partly inspired to create the book by hearing about the fate of the last Kauai 'Ō'ō, which became extinct by 1987, Tobin includes detailed facts about each bird in the back of the book, accompanied by photographs by nature photographer Jack Jeffrey.

She writes about the 'Ō'ō: "They were once one of the most beautiful birds in Hawai'i. With shiny black feathers, bright sweet singing voice, they were unforgettable. The 'Ō'ō's song was so special that some people said it sounded like the voice of the forest itself."

"The inspiration for the book comes from two places," she explained. "The first is the Kauai 'Ō'ō. Learning about that bird just kind of broke my heart, and then it's all the other generations here in Hawaii who have known these birds, celebrated them, and cherished them. It's just such a big piece of the culture. So I hope this can be a small contribution towards that love and hopefully carry those connections forward so that kids can continue growing up knowing that the birds are not just random species on a list, but part of a culture and stories that belong to the islands and are worth saving."

Hawaii's forest birds are an inextricable part of Native Hawaiian culture in their roles as ʻaumakua, and messengers between gods and the people, celebrated in mele, moʻolelo, and oli.

Musicians who have recently honored them include 'ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro who recorded the song "Eyes of the 'I'iwi," to honor the red-plumaged native Hawaiian honeycreeper, and the Nā Hōkū-nominated album "Nā Leo O Ka Honua, Endangered Species" (Volume 3), featured Raiatea Helm with Pomaikaʻi Elementary School students on the song, "'I'iwi Hawaiian Songbird."

Ancestral bird species are believed to have arrived in the Hawaiian archipelago roughly 6 million years ago. With no mammalian predators and plenty of empty habitats, these pioneer birds evolved rapidly. Many became extinct over time. A new University of Hawaii at Mānoa study suggests that native waterbird species died out not from hunting, but because of a combination of climate change, invasive species, and changes in how the land was used.

Of the 84 forest bird species known from either the fossil record or human observation, 58 species have gone extinct. One-third of the endangered bird species in the United States are Hawaiian.

Focusing on 12 birds, with playful rhymes and colorful illustrations, Tobin informs young readers about the pueo, the 'elepaio, the 'i'iwi, the 'ōma'o, the ʻuaʻo, the ʻalalā, the kiwikiu, the Laysan duck, the manu-o-Kū, the ʻanianiau, the nēnē and the Kauai 'Ō'ō.

"I was more interested in illustrating a children's book," she said. "I've always liked to draw and paint and sketch, and then the whole thing just kind of came together."

Among the interesting facts she shares with her readers, the Laysan is one of the rarest ducks in the world, the original name of the kiwikiu was lost over time, and the ʻuaʻo can fly thousands of miles.

Working at the Honolulu Zoo for four and a half years, she loves all the birds she takes care of. "I spend all day, every day, caring for a wide variety of species. Luckily, including some native species. I've got some nēnē that I get to take care of, as well as the Laysan duck, which are featured in the book."

Being part of their lives, "Honestly, it's incredibly humbling," she said. "I just love to be around them, to watch them. They're incredible, and I'm just lucky to be part of their day."

Published by Mutual Publishing on Oahu, "P Is for Pueo: A Hawaiian Alphabet Book" is Tobin's first children's book.

"I just hope that it will continue to inspire love for birds for the next generation," she said.