Football fans attending the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation football games at Kaua‘i’s facilities are no strangers to seabirds. At each of the games, the stadium announcers advise fans on what to do in the event a seabird, namely the Newell’s Shearwater,
Football fans attending the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation football games at Kaua‘i’s facilities are no strangers to seabirds.
At each of the games, the stadium announcers advise fans on what to do in the event a seabird, namely the Newell’s Shearwater, is downed at the stadium during a football game.
A representative from the Save Our Shearwaters is stationed at the main gate during the games to accept downed birds attracted by the lights.
During a release of downed shearwaters Tuesday, Jackie Kozak of SOS said the problem of birds making their way to the sea from their mountain nests are not as great when the moon is full.
It is when the moon is in its transition phase and the nights are dark that the lights tend to confuse the birds who either drop onto the field or adjacent areas, or accidentally collide with structual elements of the stadium.
Friday, Gov. Linda Lingle released $1,210,000 to retrofit the lighting at four outdoor recreational fields to minimize the harm to endangered seabirds that are attracted to the lights, states a press release from the governor’s office.
“With the implementation of these improvements, we will be able to keep endangered birds that fly in the vicinity of these parks out of harm’s way, and also improve the parks’ use for Kaua‘i residents,” Lingle said.
The fields covered by this project include Isenberg Park where community teams practice and play games frequently during the week.
Also included are the Peter Rayno Park in Hanama‘ulu, Vidinha Stadium and the Hanapepe Stadium.
“We appreciate the financial support of Gov. Lingle and the Legislature for this important project,” said Kaua‘i Mayor Bill “Kaipo” Asing. “This funding will help us in our effort to protect the endangered seabirds that have made Kaua‘i its home.”
The County of Kaua‘i is contributing $1,885,000 to this project for a total cost of $3,095,000 including $245,000 for design and $2,850,000 for construction.
Design and construction are scheduled to be completed in June, 2009.
For more information on the Newell’s Shearwaters, visit the Kaua‘i Humane Society for an informative handout it offers on what people can do to help these endangered seabirds.
The information is also available by visiting the Kaua‘i Humane Society’s Web site at www.kauaihumane.org/shearwaters.asp.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
