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Hawai‘i Wildlife Center (HWC) rehabilitation patients

By Linda Elliott, Hawaii Wildlife Center, P.O. Box 551752, Kapa‘au, HI 96755 (linda@hawaiiwildlifecenter.org)

Hawaiian archipelago seabird and shorebird rehabilitation patients treated at Hawaii Wildlife Center (HWC) March 1, 2024 to August 31, 2024 consisted of 170 seabirds (16 species) and 9 (2 species) shorebirds. 

  • Seabird species are listed in order of largest number cared for to lowest:
    • White-tern (Gygis alba) (Manu o Kū): 80
      • Most of the terns are orphaned chicks that are raised and soft-released
    • Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) (ʻUaʻu kani): 53
      • The majority of these shearwaters were downed fledglings due to light polution or impact with structures
    • Sooty Tern (Sterna fuscata) (ʻEwa ʻewa): 9
    • Red-footed Booby (Sula sula) (ʻĀ): 5
    • Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus) (Noio kōhā): 4
    • Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster plotus) (ʻĀ): 3 
    • Masked Booby (Sula dactylatra) (ʻĀ): 2
    • Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) (Koaʻe ʻula): 2
    • Nazca Booby (Sula granti) (ʻĀ): 2
    • Christmas Shearwater (Puffinus nativitatis) (ʻAoʻū): 2
    • Newell’s Shearwater (Puffinus auricularis newelli) (ʻAʻo): 2
    • Sooty Shearwater (Ardenna grisea): 2
    • Bulwerʻs Petrel (Bulweria bulwerii) (ʻOu): 1
      • Majority are downed fledglings with short stays in care
    • Hawaiian Petrel (Pterodroma sandwichensis) (ʻUaʻu): 1
    • Leachʻs Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa leucorhoa): 1
    • White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus) (Koaʻe kea): 1
  • Shorebirds:
    • Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva) (Kōlea): 8
    • Bristle-thighed Curlew (Numenius tahitiensis) (Kioea): 1