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Kokua Line
Question: Feral chickens and roosters recently have taken residence under a neighbor's house on St. Louis Heights. We don't want to kill the chickens. Anyone interested in urban free-range chickens? Call to give wild
critters a safe havenAnswer: The Wildlife Connection is. Call 682-9229.
If you need to capture the wayward fowl first, call the Hawaiian Humane Society, 946-2187, and it can provide traps.
The Wildlife Connection is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization.
"We are the only islandwide wildlife rehabilitation organization" in Hawaii, said founder Cindi Georges. "We don't say 'no.'"
In addition to wildlife in general, "we also take in chickens, ducks, wild fowl." Georges herself will accept parrots and other pet birds, "correct (their) behavioral problems and adopt them out."
Thirty-one volunteer households now are part of the organization, which "went public" last August. Georges said the group is always looking for more volunteers, as well as donations, which are tax-deductible.
"We do work 'round the clock," she said, with members ready to rescue all manner of wild animals, including reptiles. "We are trained through the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council," she said.
There are specific drop-off points for chickens, ducks, geese and pea fowl, among them private residences with acres of land, she said.
In addition to monetary contributions, "we're hoping for an angel that would donate land for us to build a sanctuary for the purpose of educating Hawaii's children," Georges said.
Georges said she was a bird behaviorist and parrot handler in Rhode Island and also worked as a "vet tech" in two states. She's been involved in "rehabbing" wildlife for years.
After her family settled in Hawaii two years ago, "I thought it was time to join the local rehab group."
She found none here, while also discovering "that Hawaii needs it more than any other state." She said Hawaii "has lost 58 birds to extinction and roughly 18 are hanging on by their fingernails."
One of the advantages of a program like the Wildlife Connection, she said, is the information that can be collected on found and injured animals. The information can reveal what's happening with various species, she said, so "it's a lot more than rehabbing and saving animals."
Q: At least one local radio station tells its listeners where HPD is watching for speeders. I suggested to them that this encourages people to drive dangerously. They claimed that their "brake checks" deter speeding and that the police appreciate what they do. One staffer emailed me that he had spoken to the police chief, who agreed the radio station "provides a service." I don't think this makes any sense. It's like claiming that you're discouraging bank robberies by telling the robbers which banks have more guards. Could you please ask HPD their opinion on radio stations that do this?
A: Police chief Lee Donohue "neither endorses nor discourages these types of reports," according to Honolulu Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Yu.
He just "hopes the news media will place public safety first when reporting," she said.
Here's the right number
In Saturday's column, we gave the wrong number for William Deering, head of the city Housing Code Section. Call 527-6308 if you have a complaint about an object placed on a public sidewalk.
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com