Marines Tread Through Mud To Save Endangered Bird

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Hawai'i
HENDERSON HALL NEWS
Marines Tread Through Mud To Save Endangered Bird
by Lance Cpl. Rick Mattingly
February 6, 2004

Deep, rumbling diesels broke the morning reverie of the Nuupia Ponds at
MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, Jan. 28, as 26-ton amphibious assault vehicles
- bristling with weapons and belching exhaust - thundered into the
wetlands.

The AAVs, the Marine Corps' signature assault vehicles, weren't on a
mission of destruction or combat support in the ponds, but operating
with orders to aid a six-inch tall, endangered bird.

Since 1982, Combat Support Company, 3rd Marine Regiment, has been
holding annual "mud ops" in Nuupia Ponds to aid the nesting and foraging
habits of the Hawaiian stilt, or Aeo.

"Over 20 years ago, it was discovered that as amphibious, tracked
vehicles made their way through the mud of the wetlands, the Hawaiian
stilt would follow using the furrows left in the mud to nest," said Dr.
Diane Drigot, natural resources management specialist for MCB Hawaii.

The Marines quickly altered the path they took to the sea in order to
protect the stilt. A plan was hatched to increase the bird's dwindling
population while giving amphibious vehicle drivers new training
opportunities.

Now, once every year, the 3rd Marine Regiment's AAV platoon hits the mud
for some environmentally friendly field operations.

"We get to go out and give our drivers "stick time" on unfamiliar
terrain that we normally don't have an opportunity to train on," said
Staff Sgt. David Hickman, amphibious assault vehicle section leader,
CSC. "At the same time, it lets us protect the environment and clean up
Nuupia Ponds."

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.dcmilitary.com/marines/hendersonhall/9_05/features/27437-1.html

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