It’s seabird season again — which means Oahu residents should look out for fallen wedge-tailed shearwaters that might be injured, dehydrated or too weak to fly to their offshore island homes.
"These birds don’t have a lot of habitat left, so anything affecting their population is something we want to address," said Jason Misaki, Oahu wildlife biologist with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
There are 11 offshore islands around Oahu where native seabirds nest.
The fledglings learn to fly in November and December. The nocturnal birds can be blinded or misguided by bright shoreline lights, flying toward them until they become exhausted or crash into something, landing in a parking lot, backyard or roadway where they can be further injured or killed by other animals.
Residents can help by shielding upward-facing lights and minimizing outdoor lighting, the state said.
Injured birds can be taken to Sea Life Park in Waimanalo, where the birds are nursed back to health, then released.
Last year Sea Life Park was inundated with more than 1,000 weak and injured birds, but this year hasn’t been as bad, said Jeff Pawloski, the park’s curator.
SEABIRD KOKUA
If you find a downed seabird:
» Place the bird in a closed, ventilated box. Use a towel when picking up the bird and keep it away from your face. Note the place and time you found the bird.
» Drop off the bird at the back parking lot of Sea Life Park (561-8641) or call the Hawaiian Humane Society (946-2187), which will pick up the bird and take it to the facility.
» For information call the Oahu Division of Forestry and Wildlife Office (973-9778).
Source: State Department of Land and Natural Resources
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As of Nov. 28, 406 birds had been taken in; 338 were released, 33 are still being held, 15 died naturally and 20 were euthanized.
"Last year we were slammed," Pawloski said. "This year we’re doing a lot better; the birds are much healthier, easier to rehab."
He attributed the difference to relatively light winds and a lack of torrential rain compared with last year.
When a bird is brought to the park, it is assessed — sometimes by a doctor if its injuries seem serious enough — and weighed.
Seabird rehabilitator Uriah Rawlings said he can tell just by holding a bird whether it is underweight or ready to be released.
On Tuesday he pressed a bird against his chest with one hand and gently stretched out its wing with the other, running his fingers along the tiny, hollow bones to feel for abnormalities.
"With these guys you really have to have a keen touch," Rawlings said. "You need to know what you’re looking for."
He shifted his grip and cupped the bird in his hands, quickly but lightly grasping each foot while the bird squirmed. He pulled the foot down with enough pressure to gauge strength. Then he held the bird away from his chest while he hung on to its feet and underbelly, leaving its wings free to flap so he could tell whether it was strong enough to fly.
"If they have good weight and good energy, they’re hydrated and released as soon as possible," he said.
Some days only a few birds come in, but last year Rawlings said there was a day where more than 100 were dropped off. The average is 10 to 30 birds.
How long a bird is treated depends on its situation. They can be assessed and released in the same day — which many this year have been — or held for a day or several days.
Releases take place three times a day at a large field that faces the ocean.
"They go out, they start hunting and hopefully they thrive with the rest of the wild population," Rawlings said.
