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Evaluating the breeding phenology of the endangered ‘a‘o (Newell’s Shearwater Puffinus newelli) on Kaua‘i to better focus conservation actions and management decisions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2022

André F. Raine Open the ORCID record for André F. Raine [Opens in a new window] ,
Scott Driskill ,
Jennnifer Rothe  and
Marc S. Travers
André F. Raine*
Affiliation:
Archipelago Research and Conservation, PO Box 81, Hanapepe 96716, Kaua‘i, Hawaii, USA
Scott Driskill
Affiliation:
Archipelago Research and Conservation, PO Box 81, Hanapepe 96716, Kaua‘i, Hawaii, USA
Jennnifer Rothe
Affiliation:
Archipelago Research and Conservation, PO Box 81, Hanapepe 96716, Kaua‘i, Hawaii, USA
Marc S. Travers
Affiliation:
Archipelago Research and Conservation, PO Box 81, Hanapepe 96716, Kaua‘i, Hawaii, USA
*
* Author for correspondence: André F. Raine, Email: andre.raine6@gmail.com
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Summary

The ‘a‘o, or Newell’s Shearwater Puffinus newelli, is an endangered shearwater species endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, with 90% of the world population found on Kaua‘i. Understanding the breeding phenology of the species is vital for identifying key periods for colony management actions and the timing and exposure frequency to infrastructure threats such as powerline collisions and light attraction. We used a combination of direct burrow monitoring and remote cameras at multiple colonies between 2012 and 2019 for a detailed assessment of the breeding phenology for this species. Breeding adults started arriving at the burrow in mid-April, some (but not all) underwent a two-week exodus in May and returned at the end of May to commence incubation. Incubation continued until mid-July. The chick-rearing period ran until the end of September. Fledging peaked in October with the last birds fledging towards the middle of November. Breeding was not synchronised, with a 59-day gap between the first and last fledging birds. The importance of this information to management actions is discussed, particularly in terms of directing management actions to key periods of vulnerability to introduced predators (such as peak incubation, chick emergence, and exercising prior to fledging), the precise timing of fledgling fallout related to light attraction, and directing colony-monitoring actions and translocation projects. We also consider the utility of the data in assessing species composition of powerline collisions and collision risk. Future work using acoustic monitoring is recommended for assessing the phenology of non-breeders and prospectors at colonies.

Keywords

seabirdphenologyNewell’s ShearwaterHawaii
Type
Research Article
Information
Bird Conservation International , Volume 33 , 2023 , e35
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of BirdLife International

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