LIHUE — Kauai’s final night football game went off without incident, according to officials. Seven federal and state wildlife biologists, as well as staff from the Save Our Shearwaters Program, were present during Saturday’s game between Kapaa and Waimea high
LIHUE — Kauai’s final night football game went off without incident, according to officials.
Seven federal and state wildlife biologists, as well as staff from the Save Our Shearwaters Program, were present during Saturday’s game between Kapaa and Waimea high schools to monitor for fledgling endangered seabirds.
Thomas J. Ka’iakapu, the Kauai wildlife manager for the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, said the collaborative effort went as planned.
“No fallout of seabirds occurred,” he said Monday. “It was a clear night, the game stayed on schedule and was over by 9:50 p.m.”
County of Kauai Parks and Recreation Director Lenny Rapozo said the county had not been informed of any incidents involving birds during the game.
The stadium lights were turned off at 11 p.m. after both teams left following Kapaa’s 28-7 win. Initially scheduled for Saturday afternoon, the matchup was moved to the evening in light of no moon conditions and it being early in the three-month-long seabird fledgling season.
Each year, from Sept. 15 to Dec. 15, endangered Newell’s shearwater and threatened Hawaiian petrels fledge from their mountain nests, often flying several miles to reach the ocean.
Unfortunately, however, the seabirds have a well-known — and sometimes fatal — attraction to artificial lights.
This Saturday’s game will be an afternoon kickoff.
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