Gall (2024)

Over the past year, ABR, Inc. has been working with hotels and a cruise line in Hawai’i to reduce light attraction and improve survival for downed seabirds. We have conducted reviews and made recommendations on responsible lighting practices. We provided training to property staff on how to search for and recover downed birds safely. Thanks to the dedicated work of seabird searchers, landscapers, restaurant staff, and many others, birds were recovered safely and transferred to the Hawai’i Wildlife Center or Save Our Shearwaters for rehabilitation and release. We also assisted properties with data management and documentation of their efforts. Another factor affecting seabird survival is predation by feral cats. We assisted properties in documenting their predator survey and trapping efforts.

Although the focus of the efforts is on species listed under the Endangered Species Act (Newell’s Shearwaters (Puffinus newelli), Hawaiian Petrels (Pterodroma sandwichensis), and Band-rumped Storm-petrels (Hydrobates castro)), all seabirds benefit from light minimization, bird recovery, and predator control efforts.