Kīlo Manu is a hands-on activity guide aimed at developing bird identification and observation skills (kīlo manu) in learners of all ages. Created by Three Mountain Alliance’s ʻImi Pono team, it encourages outdoor exploration of backyard, schoolyard, or trail environments while focusing on native Hawaiian bird species through guided practice and reflection.
Download the guide from Three Mountain Alliance and use it during field time.
Habitat exploration: Observe birds in natural settings, noting behavior, calls, plumage, habitat use, and feeding habits.
Skill-building exercises: Practice sketching birds in situ, describing field markings, and using checklists.
Reflective journaling: Record personal observations and reflect on how bird presence connects to ecosystem health.
Data-sharing option: Students may upload sightings to citizen science platforms like iNaturalist or eBird to contribute to real conservation efforts.
Ornithology basics: species identification, behavior interpretation, and bird morphology.
Ecology and habitat relationships: linking bird behaviors to native plant communities and seasons.
Kīlo practice: training observational mindfulness rooted in Hawaiian environmental tradition.
Citizen science: engaging with broader efforts to document and protect bird populations through shared data.
