‘Blue Planet II’ producers to film new series in isles

The kolea are back! That’s the joyful buzz from plover lovers throughout the island. Readers Ann and Steve sent a photo from their first sighting on Aug. 2, and from then on the letters have been pouring in.

I always enjoy reading and hearing residents’ plover stories, so thank you for writing. Please keep it up, particularly this fall, because the BBC Natural History Unit is coming to Hawaii from Bristol, United Kingdom, to film, among other wonders, plovers and the people who love them.

Following the success of “Blue Planet II” and “Planet Earth II,” BBC is embarking on a natural-history series called “Islands,” which will look at the wildlife, landscape and cultures of Madagascar, Sumatra and Hawaii.

The BBC and PBS will broadcast the series in the U.K. in late 2019, and PBS will probably screen it here in early 2020.

I met the show’s friendly producer, Evie Wright, last spring after she and the crew finished filming on Midway. Evie found me through my kolea columns and was intrigued by the connection Oahu residents have with the birds.

Evie writes, “We would love to include the story of the kolea’s amazing migration, and the unique place the bird has in the hearts of Honolulu residents. We’re interested in talking to people who look forward to the kolea returning to their backyard each fall. Residents who recognize an individual bird that feeds from their hand, for example, or who have a long-­standing relationship with an individual bird that has been visiting their garden for years.”

Filming will take place for several days between Sept. 24 and 29. The crew of three would like to film people interacting with or watching ‘their’ kolea in their backyard, and will interview Hawaii residents, focusing on why we hold the birds in such high regard. Please write me if you have a friendly and/or amusing bird.

In other kolea news, readers Cheryl and Brian Allen emailed that in mid-July they saw a flock of 23 plovers at a Mililani park during their morning walks.

“A wayward group from a different migration route?” they wondered. “Sick and or injured birds staying together for protection? Any ideas?”

Kolea expert Wally Johnson wrote that the flocking behavior suggests birds in passage, but doesn’t know where they might have come from or where they might be going. We still have a lot to learn about Pacific golden plovers.

You can share your plover stories with me, and I’ll come meet your special friend. Hopefully, we can help give it the fame it deserves.

To reach Susan Scott, go to susanscott.net and click on “Contact” at the top of her home page.