Seabirds

Fledgling Season: September 15 - December 15

The Newell's Shearwater (ʻAʻo) is THE most commonly grounded seabird during 'fallout' season.The species can easily be distinguished by its ‘formal wear’ of black and white plumage, dark bill, and pink legs with black toes. Protecting the ʻAʻo on Kauaʻi is vital to the species survival because Kauaʻi is home to 90% of the remaining population.

The Hawaiian Petrel (Uaʻu) is found exclusively on main Hawaiian Islands. In a recent study conducted by the Kauaʻi Endangered Seabird Recovery Project and Cooper & Day, they found that the population of Hawaiian Petrels has declined by 78% (Raine et al 2017) since the early 1990s.

The Band-rumped Storm Petrel (ʻAkeʻake) can be found in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

The species is hard to study due to the fact that it spends its non-breeding period at sea and its breeding areas are in hard-to-reach locations.

The population size around the main Hawaiian Islands is estimated in the low hundreds.

The ʻAkeʻake is: Medium sized, blackish-brown, and has a White band across its rump.

County of Kauaʻi KSHCP

Downed Seabird Contact Information

Immediately contact Save Our Shearwaters for pickup at (808) 635-5117.
If a downed seabird is discovered at a County Location, immediately after following the rescue procedures, or if a carcass is discovered, the Take(s) are to be reported to the KSHCP Coordinator at (808) 241-1983. All such phone reports must be followed by an email to the KSHCP Coordinator at KSHCPcoordinator@kauai.gov.
Kaua‘i Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW). Kaua‘i DOFAW at (808) 274-3433 and by email at: dofaw.hcp@hawaii.gov.
If the Kaua‘i DOFAW contacts identified above cannot be reached, call Kaua‘i Police Dispatch at (808) 241-1711 and request they contact "Wildlife."
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. USFWS Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office at (808) 792-9400.

Fledgling Season: September 15 - December 15

Fledgling Season is the time of year when native fledgling seabirds (birds that have gained the feathers necessary to fly), make their way to the ocean from high elevation, nesting sites.

Fledgling seabirds use the moon to navigate to the ocean at night, as these seabirds are nocturnal.

Many man made lighting sources such as streetlights, parking lot lights, and stadium lights can distract the seabirds and they end up crashing to the ground (fallout), causing injury or making them easy prey to invasive predators such as cats.

PSA - Fledgling Season

Juvenile Seabird PSA - Saving Kauaʻi Seabirds.

Fallout

As these birds approach light sources, they can become disoriented and fall to the ground, following physical exhaustion or collision with man-made structures and vegetation, a phenomenon known as 'fallout.

How to help

Get paid to search for seabirds. Become a monitor by applying at the link below.

Seabird Monitor Flyer

KCSC SEABIRD SEARCHING PROGRAM

General Educational Information

September 15th marks the start of fledgling season.

Save Our Shearwaters

SaveOurShearwaters.org

Aid Stations

If you find a downed seabird, bring it to the nearest aid station or for emergencies, call (808) 635-5117.

North

Kilauea Medical Group
2460 Oka St, Kilauea, HI 96754
(808) 828-1418

Hanalei Fire Station
4390 Kuhio Hwy, Princeville, HI 96722
(808) 826-6333

Central-East

Lihue Fire Station
4223 Rice St, Lihue, HI 96766
(808) 241-6515

Kapaʻa Fire Station
4-757 Kuhio Hwy, Kapaʻa, HI 96746
(808) 822-4381

Kaiakea Fire Station
4-1881 Kuhio Hwy, Kapaʻa, HI 96746
(808) 822-0936

Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Station
7370-A Kuamoʻo Rd, Kapaʻa, HI 96746
SOS Hotline: (808) 635-5117

West

Waimea Fire Station
Kamamalu St, Waimea, HI 96743
(808) 932-2900

Hanapepe Fire Station
1-3787 Kaumualii Hwy, Hanapepe, HI 96716
(808) 335-5444

Kalaheo Fire Station
2 Kaumualii Hwy, Kalaheo, HI 96741
(808) 332-8021

South

Koloa Fire Station
2810 Poipu Rd, Koloa, HI 96756
(808) 742-1516

Visit SaveOurShearwaters.org for more information.

Links to Information

Seabird Predators

The County of Kauai partners with Hallux Ecosystem Restoration LLC to meet our mitigation goals and lessen the take of seabirds.

To learn more visit: https://www.hallux-eco.com/

Hallux Ecosystem Restoration LLC is a locally owned and operated predator control company on the island of Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi. We are a team of invasive predator control experts, wildlife biologists, and NWCOA Certified Wildlife Control Operators, dedicated to the protection of native species and ecosystems, and the prevention of cruelty to animals. Our work focuses on the protection of threatened and endangered seabirds in both the remote mountainous wilderness areas and the coastal preserves of Kauaʻi. We pride ourselves in developing and applying advanced methods and techniques to most effectively and efficiently manage and remove invasive predators, using a combination of best available science, years of experience, and traditional trapping knowledge.

This PBS Hawaiʻi video addresses the issues that have arisen from humans introducing a predatory invasive species to a delicate island ecosystem. Outdoor cats pose several threats to endemic species of Hawaii. Learn from experts and specialists statewide about what is occurring, how and why we got here, and what humans can do to take steps to clean up the mess we inevitably made.

Seabird News

FAQs

What is Fledgling Season?

The time of year when immature seabirds develop the feather necessary to fly, This allows the birds to leave the nest and navigate to the ocean, by the light of the moon.

When is Fledgling Season?

September 15 - December 15

Why must lights be off during fledgling season?

Threatened and endangered Seabirds of Kauai are nocturnal. They use the light of the moon to navigate from their high elevation nests to the ocean. Bright, artificial lighting can confuse inexperienced, young seabirds, as they think the light is the moon. This can further lead to the disorientation, and exhaustion which may result in fallout; when a bird crashes to the ground and becomes injured or gets attacked by a predator.

What is the County of Kauai doing to help save and protect Seabirds?

The basic components of the KSHCP are to: Minimize, Mitigate, and Monitor.

Minimization measures include:

Turning off unnecessary lights.
Covering or shielding lights.
Angling lights downward.
Lowering light intensity.
Using motion sensor lighting.
Decreasing visibility of interior lights.

Mitigations are actions to lessen the "take" of seabirds. Measures include:

Predator controls.
A fenced seabird preserve.

Monitoring to ensure the authorized amounts of take are not exceeded and we are reaching conservation goals.

Community outreach and partnerships.

What is fallout?

Bird fallout or migration fallout is the result of factors preventing migratory birds from reaching their destination. This can occur while birds are migrating or returning to their breeding grounds.

What are things I can do to help?

Turn off unnecessary lights at night during fledgling season.
Cover outdoor lights or limit evening light use during fledgling season.
Do not feed feral animals.
Report downed seabirds if found.
Become a Seabird Monitor with the Kauai Community Science Center.
Apply to be a Predator Control Specialist with Hallux.

Department of Land and Natural Resources

Hono O Na Pali Natural Area Reserve

Other Threatened and Endangered Species of Kauaʻi

Honu

Honu: The green sea turtle, also known as the green turtle, black turtle or Pacific green turtle, is a species of large sea turtle of the family Cheloniidae. It is the only species in the genus Chelonia.

Ohia & ROD

Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD) is newly identified fungal disease currently attacking and killing ʻōhiʻa on Hawaiʻi Island. This fungus clogs the tree's vascular system, depriving the canopy of water, and may kill ʻōhiʻa very quickly. ʻŌhiʻa is the keystone species in Hawaiian forests, and ROD has the potential to cause major ecosystem disturbances that will negatively impact watersheds, cultural traditions, natural resources, and quality of life.