Jaelyn didn't quite see this critter, but said it was probably a chicken. I was so disappointed. But guess what, it's NOT a chicken and would probably shudder at the thought.

Kalij pheasants are commonly seen throughout Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. They were introduced to Hawaii from Asia in 1962 and have become a game bird due to their rapid population growth. While initially considered invasive, their impact on the native ecosystem is not as severe as originally feared. They are known to disperse seeds, which has been linked to the spread of some invasive plants like banana poka. However, studies have shown that many native seeds don't survive the birds' digestive tract, and overall germination isn't increased for native species.