Kauai Island Utility Cooperative’s Save Our Shearwaters staff recently extended its thanks to those who assisted with the rescue of Kaua‘i’s native seabirds throughout the 2006 seabird fledging season. With the assistance of residents and visitors, SOS staff was able
Kauai Island Utility Cooperative’s Save Our Shearwaters staff recently extended its thanks to those who assisted with the rescue of Kaua‘i’s native seabirds throughout the 2006 seabird fledging season.
With the assistance of residents and visitors, SOS staff was able to rescue and release 458 seabirds, approximately 83 percent of all the birds collected, announced Shelley Piak in an SOS press release. In 2005, 303 birds were rescued and released.
Twelve different seabird species were collected as part of the program, including the unusual Cook’s Petrel, Sooty Shearwater and Buller’s Shearwater, which all breed in the southern hemisphere then migrate to the northern Pacific to feed.
The Newell’s Shearwater, a threatened species, represented the majority of the birds rescued; 370 birds were released, including 29 birds that needed extra rehabilitation.
The wedge-tailed shearwater had the second-highest number of birds release with 60.
Also recovered and released were six endangered Hawaiian Petrels and two rare Band-rumped Storm-Petrels, a tiny seabird that weighs less than a sparrow.
Each year from September through December, fledgling seabirds leave their nests for the first time, flying at night using the moon and stars to navigate out to sea, according to the SOS release.
Many of the young birds are attracted to and blinded by bright lights, which cause them to collide with structures or simply fall to the ground exhausted and disoriented.
These are the busiest months of the year for the SOS team, which collects seabirds dropped off at fire stations and other aid stations around the island for identification, rehabilitation and release.
Even in the off-season, though, the team never rests.
From January to August, a small number of seabirds can still be found on Kaua‘i.
Grounded seabirds should be picked up immediately and taken to the nearest fire station, where temporary stands and carriers have been placed for depositing the birds.
A logbook to record when and where the bird was found and a list of phone numbers to report the bird is provided at the station.
Because these stations are only checked when someone calls in, phoning the contact numbers on the list until someone is reached is paramount.
Birds can also be deposited at the Kaua‘i Humane Society in Puhi, where KIUC’s SOS rehabilitation center is located.
All birds should be taken to a drop-off point, regardless of condition. In the past, there were several incidents where poorly informed residents attempted to rehabilitate the seabirds they found, resulting in the birds’ death. SOS staff and volunteers are properly trained to provide special care for the birds.
For more information about the program, visit www.kiuc.coop.
A special mahalo to the many supporters: SOS staff, including coordinator Sharon Reilly and field technicians Jason Vercelli, Angela Iwai and Monique Imberski; SOS volunteers Kathy Maddox, Matt Parker and Lea Taddonio; KHS director Dr. Becky Rhoades and all of the KHS staff; Kaua‘i veterinarians Dr. Joanne Woltmon and Dr. Scott Sims; Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources biologists Thomas Kaiakapu, Alan Silva, Nick Holmes and Andrea Erichsen; the Hawaii Audubon Society; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s biologist Brenda Zaun; U.S. Navy personnel John Burger, Johnny Michael and Vanessa Pepi; photographer Jim Denny; videographer Katie Beer; Wala‘au’s Dickie Chang and Bruce Smalling; County of Kaua‘i Police and Fire departments; Lihu‘e Airport Wildlife Services; the Marriott, Grand Hyatt, Princeville and Sheraton Kauai hotels; Matson Nawiliwili; Hanalei Liquor Store; Kauai Medical Group-Kilauea; Port Allen Chevron; and all of the Kaua‘i residents and visitors who helped rescue hundreds of seabirds each year.
