Ay, that stinker Najuma. He’s a young guy out on his own, cruising Waikiki, checking the sights, spreading his wings.
The African ground hornbill flew the coop, so to speak, during that big storm that blew through Feb. 10. A tree came crashing down on the exhibit where he lived in the Honolulu Zoo. Najuma and a second bird, Martha, took advantage of the breach and went holoholo.
Martha, a 15-year-old female with better things to do than go gallivanting, came back mostly on her own with a little coaxing from zoo staff who offered her food. Najuma, however, has been spotted but not apprehended.
The Honolulu Zoo Facebook page is keeping tabs on Najuma sightings. One post reads: “He has been consistently spotted around the zoo area, near Kapiolani Park and around the base of Diamond Head. We are encouraged that he’s still being spotted in different areas around the zoo. Please take a photo of him from a distance and send it in. DO NOT approach the bird or try to feed him. Report the sighting to 911 immediately as zoo staff will be sent right away to check the area.”
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell also has been posting updates on the search for the bird with the cutest, saddest hashtag, #findingnajuma, that just makes you want to drop everything, grab some birdwatching binoculars and go looking for the poor little (not so little) lost bird.
Caldwell posted a link to a video of what a ground hornbill sounds like, in case people might want to listen for the distinctive sound he makes. Turns out the ground hornbill’s call is an amazing bit of awesomeness all on its own. It sounds for all the world like a backup singer in a doo-wop band. Honestly. He’s either singing “Earth Angel” or “Come Go With Me.” (Check it out at 808ne.ws/2EqfPug.)
Najuma is about 2 feet tall with black feathers and red around his eyes and his throat. He has a long, curved beak. There’s no mistaking him for a mynah or a pigeon.
One can only imagine what he’s been doing. He gets water from the food he eats so he’s probably not bar-hopping or slurping from the Ala Wai, thank goodness. He eats mice, so maybe he’s helping clean up the place. With that voice, he could be dropping in for a set at the Blue Note, for all we know.
He’s all alone, so there’s no chance of him establishing a colony of ground hornbills somewhere like the Kalihi wallabies or the Waimanalo iguana or all the flocks of former pet store birds. He was hatched at the zoo, so it’s the only home he’s ever known.
Just about every doo-wop song includes some variation of the lyric “baby come back.” Hopefully Najuma heeds the message.
Reach Lee Cataluna at 529-4315 or lcataluna@staradvertiser.com.
