Safeguards in place for night football games and native seabirds
Published on September 11, 2025
LIHU‘E – The County of Kaua‘i is pleased to announce that nighttime high school football games will resume this year during the Seabird Fledgling Season, from Sept. 15 to Dec. 15, thanks to a coordinated effort between county and state officials, community partners, and environmental agencies.
“This agreement shows that we can support our interscholastic athletes while protecting our natural heritage at the same time,” said Mayor Kawakami. “Mahalo to all our federal, state, county, and community partners. Special thanks go to Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation Executive Secretary Jason Yoshida and Kaua‘i Complex Superintendent Leila Maeda-Kobayashi, whose collaboration and dedication helped ensure that our keiki athletes can continue to compete under the lights while critical protections remain in place for endangered and threatened seabird species.”
“The KIF and its member schools would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to the County of Kaua‘i for its instrumental work in allowing more night football games this KIF football season,” said Jason Yoshida, KIF Executive Secretary. “Your dedicated and timely collaboration with federal agencies to address the Shearwater Conservation Plan has made a significant and positive impact on our community.”
In coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of Land and Natural Resources, each weekend of the high school football season is evaluated and assessed through a tiered system of low, medium and high risk for bird fallout. Under the County’s approved plan, night games are allowed for all low and medium risk nights, no night games are allowed during high risk. For the 2025 season there are 7 games scheduled during the fallout season. Of these seven, four meet the criteria and will be played at night. This means that of the total 13 week season there will be 10 night games and 3 day games.
Per requirements of the plan, all interscholastic football games scheduled during this season will have trained seabird monitors and wildlife biologists present during the fallout period.
Low-risk nights typically have favorable weather and moonlight conditions that reduce disorientation risks for fledgling seabirds. Medium-risk nights may have partial cloud cover or lighting conditions that slightly increase the chance of fallout and downed birds. High-risk nights occur during low moonlight and overcast skies, significantly increasing the danger of seabirds becoming disoriented by artificial lighting.
Fledgling Season marks the period when native seabirds, including the Hawaiian petrel, Newell’s shearwater, and Band-rumped storm-petrel, leave their mountain nesting sites and navigate to the ocean for the first time. These nocturnal birds use the moon and stars to guide them, but artificial lighting from homes, streetlamps, stadiums, and vehicles can disorient them, causing them to crash to the ground in an event known as “fallout and downed bird.” Once grounded, they are highly vulnerable to injury or predation from animals like feral cats.
Beyond athletic events, community members and visitors are urged to assist in protecting Kaua‘i’s native seabirds during this sensitive time. Officials recommend reducing or eliminating unnecessary outdoor lighting at night, especially near coastlines and in upland areas. Shielded light fixtures should be used to minimize light pollution. Drivers are reminded to remain alert in the evenings for fallout and downed birds along roadways, and pet owners are asked to keep cats indoors and dogs leashed to reduce predation risks.
If a fallout and downed bird is found, gently pick it up using a towel or cloth and place it in a ventilated cardboard box. Do not give the bird food or water, and do not attempt to throw it into the air. Call Save Our Shearwaters immediately at 808-635-5117 for pickup and care. The Division of Forestry and Wildlife can also be reached at 808-274-3433 or by email at dofaw.hcp@hawaii.gov. If DOFAW is unavailable, Kaua‘i Police Dispatch can be contacted at 808-241-1711 to request assistance from “Wildlife.” The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office is also available at 808-792-9400.
For questions or more information, please contact the Department of Parks and Recreation at 808-241-4460 or parks@kauai.gov.
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