WAILUA — Six rescued Newell’s Shearwater, or ‘A‘o, were released into the wild to the quiet and subdued cheering of fourth grade students from Island School and the Elsie Wilcox Elementary School during the annual E Ho‘opomaika‘i ‘ia na Manu ‘A‘o, or A Cultural Release of the Native Newell’s Shearwater, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Brooke McFarland, a Kaua‘i Endangered Species Recovery Project Avian Conservation research associate, described the scene with the trades blowing in off the Pacific Ocean as near-ideal conditions, which allowed the endangered birds a direct line into the ocean from its portable launch platform.
Additionally, Tracy Anderson, a Save Our Shearwaters coordinator, checked each bird for well-being, taking final measurements before replacing a temporary identification tag with the permanent bird band.
“Some of these birds have been at the SOS facility rehabilitating,” Anderson said. “When they’re healthy enough to fly, they are released.”
During the release event coordinated by the KESRP and SOS, McFarland reviewed ‘A‘o facts she presented during a class visit several days ahead of the release on Tuesday, having one of the rehabilitated ‘A‘o so children could get a close up look at the endangered bird before it was turned over to kupuna Sabra Kauka for its pule and release.
The school visits by KESRP personnel increases their connection with this special bird, states a Hawai‘i State Department of Land and Natural Resources release.
The school visits also discuss the importance of Kaua‘i to this species and the reasons why its conservation is so critical.
“Kaua‘i holds 90 percent of the world population of this endangered seabird and protecting the birds on our island is fundamental to its long term survival,” McFarland said. “Teaching the keiki about these birds and then allowing them the opportunity to witness one flying out to sea really allows the next generation the chance to connect with Kaua‘i’s most endangered seabird.”
Anderson said the birds released Tuesday include those which have been attracted and confused by lights around the island, circling the lights until they eventually crash to the ground, a term referred to as “fall out.”
People rescue the birds and turn them into aid stations located around the island, most commonly, in front of fire stations where SOS personnel collect the rescue birds for treatment, rehabilitation and release at the SOS facility located at the Kaua‘i Humane Society.
Without the aid of people rescuing the birds, they become easy prey, due to its exhausted state, for land predators including dogs, cats or even automobiles.
The ‘A‘o, which received its name from its unique call, has undergone a dramatic population decline of approximately 75 percent in recent years, states the DLNR release.
There is a very real risk of extinction unless effective conservation actions are put in place.
There are a number of reasons for the downward trend in ‘A‘o population, including predation by introduced species such as rats and feral cats, loss of breeding habitat from introduced plants and animals, and the effects of light pollution and collisions with power lines, the release states.
Joining the students, a video team working with the Kaua‘i Invasive Species Committee said it was working on a mongoose video.
“If the mongoose ever gets established on this island, who knows what will happen to these birds,” said Hob Osterlund, one of the crew working on a video for the KISC and founder of the Kaua‘i Albatross Network.
Kaua‘i, home to 90 percent of the ‘A‘o population, is the only island without a mongoose population.
During the fledging period, which peaks in October, the effects of light pollution are the most pronounced on the birds making their first flight to the ocean from their mountain burrow nests.
The SOS program recovers large numbers of young ‘A‘o which have been affected by artificial lighting, the number of young birds falling out during this period being directly related to the phase of the moon.
“These birds are flying out of breeding grounds in the interior of the island where it is dark and encounter the light emanating from our towns and cities,” Anderson said. “If the moon has risen and is providing a strong light source, then this is not such a big issue because the effects of light pollution are much diminished.”
When there is a new moon and very little natural light in the night sky, then the birds are significantly more affected by the draw of artificial lighting, Anderson said.
“We expect the middle weeks of October to be the worst time for fall out of Newell’s Shearwater, this year,” she said.
People finding a downed ‘A‘o should take the bird to the nearest aid station and leave detailed information on where and when it was found.
Once left at the aid station, call the SOS hotline at (808) 635-5117 for more information, or to let SOS know a bird was dropped off at an aid station.
The stations are checked each morning for seabirds, including ‘Ao, and the birds are taken to the SOS facility for rehabilitation and release.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
