Japanese White-eye

Japanese White-eye aka. Mejiro (Japanese)
Koloa, Kauai, Hawai'i, USA
December 2015
Native of: Japan (obvs), much of East Asia
Member of the White-eyes Family
§A Circle of White-eyes§

~true bird fact~ A true study in the unforeseen consequences of introducing non-native species, the Japanese White-eye has been subject to much tampering by humans. A native of Japan, where is has cultural and artistic significance, it was introduced to Hawai'i in 1929 deliberately as a means to combat insects. Within 60 years, it was the most common bird on the Hawaiian islands, and was a major threat to native bird species (via carrying avian parasites) and native plant species (via spreading the seeds of non-native plants). Complicating things further, the White-eye may now be too important for the survival of native plants to ever really get rid of. I'm as happy to see the White-eye as anyone, I think it's a cool bird, but we really out to stop doing this stuff.

Struggles with small talk
Just wants to fit in, be 'one of the guys'
Early adopter of technology
Tends to fixate