Michael Mitchell, retired from the Fish and Wildlife Service, said on Thursday that it was a great feeling to watch several rescued birds fly off for another chance at life.
Mitchell was one of three guest release hosts during E Ho‘opomaika‘o ia Na Manu ‘A‘o, or release of rescued Newell’s Shearwater and other endangered seabirds. He was joined by Kumu Sabra Kauka who traditionally offers the sendoff oli. And freshman County Councilmember Fern Holland was surprised and thrilled when asked to release one of the endangered seabirds.
Coordinated by the Kauai Endangered Seabird Recovery Project and the Save Our Shearwaters program, E Ho‘opomaika‘o ia Na Manu ‘A‘o is the annual release and celebration of the rescued fledgling ‘A‘o, or Newell’s Shearwater, and other endangered seabirds such as the Hawaiian Petrel, or Ua‘u.
The ceremony was a learning lesson for about four dozen students from Island School, and this year, Kapaa Middle School who had the experience of seeing an ‘A‘o up close. The students were able to watch the birds that were rescued by Kauai people and brought to the Save Our Shearwaters program for rehabilitation and strengthening before being released.
The students also received instruction on the ‘A‘o and seabirds and their connection to Hawaiian culture.
The ceremony also served as a reminder of the fledging season and for folks to be aware of the movement of seabirds learning to fly from the mountains to the ocean.
A‘o are seabirds that return to the mountains to lay their eggs in burrows. Once the chicks are hatched, the birds make their way back to the open ocean, using the moon and stars to help them on their journey.
Along their journey to the sea, the birds can often become confused by bright lights. Once exhausted, they can fall to the ground where they become prey to feral and domesticated animals, other injuries and exhaustion.
Because ‘A‘o are seabirds, they have a difficult time getting airborne once they fall out of the sky.
For these reasons, during the fledging season from Sept. 15 through Dec. 15 people are asked to cut back on the unnecessary use of bright lights that can disorient young birds. People are also asked to be aware of these birds learning to fly, and rescue them if any are seen on the ground.
Individuals and groups who find downed seabirds can also visit the Kauai Endangered Seabird Recovery Project website at www.kauaiseabirdproject.org for information on what to do, or how to handle a downed seabird.
Source: The Garden Island