When Glynnis Nakai says Maui’s Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge is for the birds, she means it in a good way.

"It was established in 1992 to protect the endangered aeo (Hawaiian stilt) and alae keokeo (Hawaiian coot) and their wetland habitat," said Nakai, who has served as the refuge’s manager for 14 1⁄2 years. "December through April is the most exciting time of the year for visitors because it’s when we host as many as 30 species of water birds."

Along with the aeo and alae keokeo, 18 other species live at the Kealia Pond NWR year-round. Joining them during the winter are migratory waterfowl and shorebirds from as far away as Alaska, Canada and Asia.

"The number of visiting species varies from year to year, but it’s usually between 12 and 15," Nakai said. "They show up at different times throughout winter, and rare species can be seen on any given day. You could come three days in a row and see different birds each time. That’s what makes the refuge’s population so interesting right now."

When Nakai was growing up, her family’s outings revolved around hiking, fishing and other outdoor activities. That interest led her to a bachelor’s degree in zoology, a master’s degree in wildlife biology and management, and a career that she says has many more rewards than just a paycheck.

The Kealia Pond NWR lies along Maui’s south-central shore at the base of two watersheds — one originating in Hale­akala and the other in the West Maui Mountains. Water is channeled to its six ponds via two streams from Hale­akala and three from the West Maui Mountains.

During Hawaii’s rainy months, typically December through March, Kealia Pond, the main pond, can expand from 200 to 450 acres, with its deepest sections averaging 3 feet. Water levels begin to recede in March; from late summer through fall they can drop to around 8 inches.

The alae keokeo builds its nests among "emergent vegetation," plants that grow in the water, so it breeds during the winter when levels are high. When levels are low, usually from April through July, the aeo nests and lays its eggs on the exposed bottoms of the ponds.

"We carefully monitor water levels all year, making changes when needed to provide appropriate resting, foraging and nesting habitats for the birds," Nakai said. "Between August and December, when levels are at their lowest, we often need to pump water from brackish wells into the ponds so algae and aquatic invertebrates — the birds’ primary food sources — can thrive."

According to Nakai, although the ponds look dry right now, this is a great time to see birds because they are numerous and easily visible, especially at the Kanui­manu Ponds. From 1970 to 1995 these five man-made ponds were used to raise catfish.

In 2005 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which administers the Kealia Pond NWR, restored them as habitats for water birds. Visitors are welcome to stroll along the levees separating the ponds, being careful not to disturb any of the feathered residents.

The refuge’s new administration building opened nearby in February. Staff offices occupy half of the 7,500-square-foot facility; the other half is a visitor center.

"There are 12 national wildlife refuges in Hawaii; Kealia Pond is the only one that has a visitor center," Nakai said. "Construction of the building followed LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) criteria, including photovoltaic panels, sensors that adjust lighting in rooms based on how much ambient light is present, and landscaping that incorporates native Hawaiian plants that don’t require much water."

Visitors can explore the center’s exhibit hall at their leisure (staff and volunteers are on hand to answer questions). Interactive displays encourage them to open drawers, lift covers off bowls and peer through microscopes to learn about the aeo and alae keokeo, the Hale­akala and West Maui Mountain watersheds, wetland restoration, aquatic invertebrates, invasive plants and animals, and more.

"Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge is a treasure — one of the few natural wetlands remaining in Hawaii," Nakai said. "My staff and I often get muddy and stay out in the sun for long hours, pulling weeds to restore habitat and monitoring the wetlands for the birds we are here to protect. But we know our work is important for them and for the people who come here as curious observers and leave as their champions."

DID YOU KNOW?

>> “Aeo,” shown below, means “one standing tall,” which is apropos for this stilt whose legs take up half of its 16-inch height.

>> To draw predators away from its chicks, the aeo becomes an actor, pretending it has a broken wing.

>> The aeo’s eggs and chicks are speckled with brown spots that are great camouflage because they blend in with the soil. As soon as the chicks hatch and dry off, they are able to walk and feed on their own.

>> The alae keokeo has large feet, which keep its body cool and serve as paddles when it’s swimming and diving for food and as weapons against other coots entering its territory.

>> Each year, the kolea (Pacific golden plover), a migratory shorebird, flies 3,000 miles nonstop from Alaska’s Seward Peninsula to winter at the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge.

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Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi is a Honolulu-based freelance writer whose travel features for the Star-Advertiser have won several Society of American Travel Writers awards.