Got Dead Bird?

Another from the “only in Hawaii” file – I bring you the state-sponsored Got Dead Bird? site. A co-worker heard it on the radio driving in one morning. Originally, it looks like it was intended to be a way for residents to track and report dead birds for government officials to determine if they wanted to investigate possible West Nile virus or Bird Flu infections. But it’s been reported recently that there are a large number of wild chickens and roosters on Kauai dying mysteriously in parking lots and along the roadside, so officials are encouraging those on Kauai to report dead chickens and roosters here. It’s sad that this is necessary, but I can’t figure out what makes me laugh more - the title of the site itself or the upside-down “dead” bird logo.
Click the Gallery link for a handy reference for you casual bird watchers! I feel vindicated in a way. At some point during our stay here I went to the Dole Plantation to take pictures of the Dole gardens. I asked the garden docent about what types of birds I saw around. She didn’t really know for sure, but guessed that the Zebra Dove was a dove, and the Red-Crested Cardinal was a cardinal. Flash forward many months later and I’m walking along the Ko Olina coves with Robbie one evening. We’d paused to watch the birds when a nearby tourist, also watching the birds, asked me if I knew what they were. I reported what I understood, that I thought one was a dove. Well, that information was quickly dismissed by said tourist, with a “no” and told me some contradicting bird information. I shuffled away with my chin down, mumbling, “Well, that’s just what I was told one day…” So imagine my surprise when I see this reference and find out that sweet college kid working at the Dole Plantation was indeed on the right path and had not done me wrong! Take that know-it-all tourist!