Up and Running at Koloa Substation - Kauai Island Utility Cooperative
Up and Running at Koloa Substation - Kauai Island Utility Cooperative Up and Running at Koloa Substation - Kauai Island Utility Cooperative
A Good Headwind: Shearwaters Released at Lydgate Park 22 KIUC CURRENTS By Shelley Paik
In late October, groups of children from Wilcox School and Island School participated in a release at Lydgate Park coordinated by the Kaua‘i Endangered Seabird Recovery Project (KESRP), in partnership with the State’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), Save Our Shearwaters (SOS) at the Kaua‘i Humane Society and Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative. “That park (Lydgate) is one of our preferred sites for releasing shearwaters, as well as other seabirds, because it often has a good headwind, and also there are several high points on the beach where the birds can more easily take off from,” said Marie Morin, SOS project coordinator. Brooke McFarland and Andre Raine of KESRP headed the event. They said the birds that were to be released had all been examined, weighed and banded with numbered metal federal bands, and were ready to head out to sea. The ‘A‘o (Newell’s shearwater), a threatened species, are found on Kaua‘i. They are guided out to sea by the light of the moon and, unfortunately, become disoriented by artificial lights, most often during nights with low moonlight (e.g. “new” moon). KIUC has shielded all of the lights at its facilities and all of the street lights on the island have been shielded since 2004. The students not only were shown how to hold a shearwater, but how to pick one up safely with a small towel, covering the head and gently swaddling it so it feels safe. That is because its head is covered and it cannot see unfamiliar sights like humans, and because the wings are held in place gently by the sides so the bird cannot be injured as easily. The excitement grew as KESRP and SOS staff brought out the birds one by one to be placed on the platform to be released. Some of the birds quickly spread their wings and took off, while others took their time before continuing their journey to sea. The birds had been rescued by caring residents and visitors who turned them in to aid stations around the island. The SOS staff collects the birds and rehabilitates them until they are ready to be released into the wild. The official SOS season runs from September 15 through December 15 each year. Aid stations then are taken down. If you find a downed seabird, please report it by calling the Kaua‘i Humane Society at 632.0610 extension 109. The Kaua‘i Humane Society and KIUC continue to partner in the SOS program. DECEMBER 2011 23
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- Page 55 and 56: Simple Pleasures Joe Fontanilla rec
In l<strong>at</strong>e October, groups of children from Wilcox<br />
School <strong>and</strong> Isl<strong>and</strong> School particip<strong>at</strong>ed in a release<br />
<strong>at</strong> Lydg<strong>at</strong>e Park coordin<strong>at</strong>ed by the Kaua‘i<br />
Endangered Seabird Recovery Project (KESRP), in<br />
partnership with the St<strong>at</strong>e’s Division of Forestry<br />
<strong>and</strong> Wildlife (DOFAW), Save Our Shearw<strong>at</strong>ers<br />
(SOS) <strong>at</strong> the Kaua‘i Humane Society <strong>and</strong> Kaua‘i<br />
Isl<strong>and</strong> <strong>Utility</strong> Cooper<strong>at</strong>ive.<br />
“Th<strong>at</strong> park (Lydg<strong>at</strong>e) is one of our preferred<br />
sites for releasing shearw<strong>at</strong>ers, as well as other<br />
seabirds, because it often has a good headwind,<br />
<strong>and</strong> also there are several high points on the<br />
beach where the birds can more easily take off<br />
from,” said Marie Morin, SOS project coordin<strong>at</strong>or.<br />
Brooke McFarl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> Andre Raine of KESRP<br />
headed the event. They said the birds th<strong>at</strong> were to<br />
be released had all been examined, weighed <strong>and</strong><br />
b<strong>and</strong>ed with numbered metal federal b<strong>and</strong>s, <strong>and</strong><br />
were ready to head out to sea.<br />
The ‘A‘o (Newell’s shearw<strong>at</strong>er), a thre<strong>at</strong>ened<br />
species, are found on Kaua‘i. They are guided out<br />
to sea by the light of the moon <strong>and</strong>, unfortun<strong>at</strong>ely,<br />
become disoriented by artificial lights, most often<br />
during nights with low moonlight (e.g. “new”<br />
moon). KIUC has shielded all of the lights <strong>at</strong> its<br />
facilities <strong>and</strong> all of the street lights on the isl<strong>and</strong><br />
have been shielded since 2004.<br />
The students not only were shown how to hold<br />
a shearw<strong>at</strong>er, but how to pick one up safely with a<br />
small towel, covering the head <strong>and</strong> gently<br />
swaddling it so it feels safe. Th<strong>at</strong> is because its<br />
head is covered <strong>and</strong> it cannot see unfamiliar sights<br />
like humans, <strong>and</strong> because the wings are held in<br />
place gently by the sides so the bird cannot be<br />
injured as easily.<br />
The excitement grew as KESRP <strong>and</strong> SOS staff<br />
brought out the birds one by one to be placed on<br />
the pl<strong>at</strong>form to be released. Some of the birds<br />
quickly spread their wings <strong>and</strong> took off, while<br />
others took their time before continuing their<br />
journey to sea.<br />
The birds had been rescued by caring residents<br />
<strong>and</strong> visitors who turned them in to aid st<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
around the isl<strong>and</strong>. The SOS staff collects the birds<br />
<strong>and</strong> rehabilit<strong>at</strong>es them until they are ready to be<br />
released into the wild.<br />
The official SOS season runs from September 15<br />
through December 15 each year. Aid st<strong>at</strong>ions then<br />
are taken down. If you find a downed seabird,<br />
please report it by calling the Kaua‘i Humane<br />
Society <strong>at</strong> 632.0610 extension 109.<br />
The Kaua‘i Humane Society <strong>and</strong> KIUC continue<br />
to partner in the SOS program.<br />
DECEMBER 2011 23
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