Fall out of 636 Wedge-tailed Shearwaters on the Hawaiian island of Oahu in 2024, from the report

A 174-page report from the state of Hawaii’s Dark Night Skies Protection Advisory Committee released this month proposes to regulate artificial light use in the state’s inhabited islands, inter alia to reduce harmful effects on breeding seabirds. The report lists eight species, all burrowing procellariiforms, that breed on Hawaiian Islands and are considered highly vulnerable to light pollution.  They are:

Newell’s Shearwater Puffinus newelli (Critically Endangered)
Hawaiian Petrel Pterodroma sandwichensis (Endangered)
Bonin Petrel Pterodroma hypoleuca (Least Concern)
Bulwer’s Petrel Bulweria bulweri (Least Concern)
Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacifica (Least Concern)
Christmas Shearwater Puffinus nativitatis (Least Concern)
Band-rumped Storm Petrel Oceanodroma [Hydrobates] castro (Least Concern)
Tristram’s Storm Petrel Oceanodroma [Hydrobates] tristrami (Least Concern)

A downed Newell’s Shearwater gets released on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai in 2017, photograph by Hob Osterlund

The report states: “These seabirds use natural light from the moon and stars to navigate to sea to foraging grounds hundreds to thousands of miles away where they feed and spend the majority of their lives, and then to return to their natal colonies to breed.  Artificial lighting disorients them, causing them to circle lights or collide with structures.  Seabirds are drawn to artificial lighting at night, often resulting in “fallout” events where disoriented birds land in unsafe urban environments.  Exhausted or injured grounded birds are vulnerable to predation especially by cats and mongooses, starvation, and fatal collisions with vehicles.  Young seabirds, particularly during their first journey to sea at fledging, are especially at risk of disorientation, but adult birds may also be impacted by artificial lighting and end up grounded.  This phenomenon is exacerbated by increasing coastal development and poorly directed lighting.”

To reduce the impact of artificial light on seabirds, the following strategies are recommended in the report:

Dimming and Shielding Lights.  Shield exterior lighting to direct light downward and eliminate unnecessary skyward or seaward projections; dim lighting near sensitive areas, especially during peak fallout or migration periods.

Low Blue Content Lighting.  Use lights with warmer colours and lower colour temperatures (amber or red).

Predator Control.  Support predator control programmes to manage populations of feral cats and mongooses which prey on grounded seabirds, particularly during breeding and fledging.

Seasonal Adjustments and Community Engagement.  Encourage “Lights Out” campaigns during fledging periods; implement targeted community education programmes, such as the “Save Our Shearwaters” initiative, to reduce non-essential lighting at night.

Motion Sensors and Timers.  Install motion-sensor lighting in facilities near nesting and migratory hotspots to minimize unnecessary illumination, use automatic dimmers or timers to reduce light exposure during late-night hours.

Coastal Development Considerations:  Modify building designs in coastal areas to minimize skyglow and shield lighting during fledging seasons.

“By adopting these mitigation strategies, Hawai’i can significantly reduce the adverse effects of artificial lighting on both seabird and migratory bird populations, while also addressing predation threats.  These measures will help preserve vulnerable species and maintain the ecological balance of the islands.”

Close to fledging: a Hawaiian Petrel in the hand

The report proposes regulations that are situation-dependent, meaning the standards would not be a “one-size fits all” method.  The suggested next steps include tracking low traffic times for areas like parks and beaches to see if timers or dimmed lights would be effective in saving energy.  Committee members say the report is for information and discussion purposes and could be used by state lawmakers to shape future legislation, but no official legislation is being proposed.  The report will now be submitted to the State Legislature.

Access over a hundred previous articles in ACAP Latest News on the widespread effects of light pollution on burrowing petrels and shearwaters around the world.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 26 December 2025

As 2025 ends, the ACAP Secretariat extends its warm seasonal greetings and best wishes for the New Year to all ACAP Officials, their partners, as well as to all ACAP researchers, supporters and followers for their work on and interest in the conservation of albatrosses and petrels.

Preparations have begun for next year’s World Albatross Day (the seventh) to be celebrated on 19 June.  The theme for WAD 2026 will be “Habitat Restoration”, as has already been announced.  As in previous years there will be photo and art posters, artworks from Artists & Biologists Unite for Nature (ABUN) and seven related articles in ACAP Latest News for ‘WADWEEK2026’.

New ACAP Species Infographics in support of WAD2026 are being produced for the Endangered Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche chlororhynchos and the Vulnerable Chatham Albatross T. eremita; the latter sponsored by the New Zealand Department of Conservation.  These two infographics will be the 22nd and 23rd in the 31 ACAP-listed species series.

The Fifteenth Meeting of ACAP’s Advisory Committee (AC15) and its working groups will be held from 25 May to 5 June 2026 in Swakopmund, Namibia (read more here).

The ACAP Secretariat based in Hobart, Tasmania is taking a short break over the festive period from today, returning on Monday, 5 January 2026.

The ACAP Secretariat, 24 December 2025

 RSV Nuyina at Heard Island in October 2025, photograph by Simon Payne

Australia’s icebreaker, RSV Nuyina, has visited Heard Island for the second time this year, this time for a 25-day science and environmental management visit.  The ship spent 10 days at the World Heritage-listed Heard Island in October.  “V1 was a quick visit to lay the foundations for V2 and capture some key data points early in the wildlife season”.  V2 is a 25-day programme, giving more time to collect samples and data.

On V1, samples were taken from Southern Elephant Seals Mirounga leonina after a large number of dead pups was found on Heard Island’s south coast.  These samples tested positive for the highly contagious H5 bird flu (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, click here).  By the time V2 reached the island, the elephant seals would have finished breeding, but fur seals and seabirds would have started.  A key focus for wildlife biologists will be looking at whether H5 bird flu is now impacting other species and assessing the spread of the virus on the island.

“During V2 we will assess for any signs and symptoms of H5 bird flu in other species, collect further samples for virus confirmation and assess the population sizes of priority species so the short-term and long-term impacts of the virus can be assessed,” wildlife biologist Dr Julie McInnes said.

A Black-browed Albatross feeds its chick on Heard Island, photograph by Roger Kirkwood

Heard Island supports breeding populations of ACAP-listed Black-browed Albatrosses Thalassarche melanophris, Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses Phoebetria palpebrata and Southern Giant Petrels Macronectes giganteus. (click here).

Read more on V2 here.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 23 December 2025

Flesh-footed Shearwater at sea, photograph by Kirk Zufelt

Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) have submitted proposals to add 27 species of procellariiform seabirds to CMS appendices.  The proposed amendments to the appendices were reviewed and commented on at the 8th Meeting of the Sessional Committee of the CMS Scientific Council (ScC-SC8), held over 15 to 18 December 2025 in Bonn, Germany, prior to their formal consideration at the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CMS (COP15), to be held in Campo Grande, Brazil from 23 to 29 March 2026.

The 27 seabirds include the Near threatened Flesh-footed Shearwater Ardenna carneipes, proposed to be listed on Appendix II by Australia, France and New Zealand, the sole breeding range states for the species.  The Sessional Committee supported the proposal and noted the species is facing various threats, such as climate change and bycatch in fisheries, adding that listing will strengthen cooperation to tackle threats and reduce them.

The Flesh-footed Shearwater was considered for listing by ACAP at its 2019 meeting, but as yet no formal proposal to the Parties has been made.  Some of the 31 species of albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters listed by ACAP are also included in CMS appendices, which preceded their listing by ACAP.  These include the Vulnerable Pink-footed Shearwater A. creatopus (Appendix I) and the Critically Endangered Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus (Appendix I).

According to the CMS, Appendix II lists migratory species which have an unfavourable conservation status, and which require international agreements for their conservation and management.  It also includes species whose conservation status would significantly benefit from the international cooperation that could be achieved by an international agreement.  It thus seems that a pathway is opening for ACAP (which itself is a CMS instrument) to be that “international agreement” and consider listing the Flesh-footed Shearwater, especially since the three countries proposing the species for Appendix II listing are also Parties to the Albatross and Petrel Agreement.

Flesh-footed Shearwater in flight, photograph by Kirk Zufelt

In addition, 26 gadfly petrel taxa in the genera Pseudobulweria and Pterodroma have been proposed for listing by Australia, Brazil, Chile, Cook Islands, Dominican Republic, Fiji and New Zealand.  Nine taxa are proposed for Appendix I and 17 for Appendix II.  The Sessional Committee supported the inclusion of the proposed species, commending New Zealand for its leadership.  Click here for a full list of the 26 gadfly petrels and to which appendix they are proposed for inclusion.

Appendix I comprises migratory species that have been assessed as being in danger of extinction (“facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future”) throughout all or a significant portion of their range.

ACAP Latest News will report on the outcomes of COP15 and also give links to the supporting documents for each taxon once they become available in the new year.

Selected Publications:

Baker, G.B. & Wise, B.S. 2005.  The impact of pelagic longline fishing on the Flesh-footed Shearwater Puffinus carneipes in eastern Australia.  Biological Conservation 126: 305-316.

Cooper, J. & Baker, G.B. 2008.  Identifying candidate species for inclusion within the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels.  Marine Ornithology 36 1-8.

Jamieson, S.E. & Waugh, S.M. 2015.  An assessment of recent population trends of flesh-footed shearwaters (Puffinus carneipes) breeding in New Zealand.  Notornis 62: 8-13.

Lavers, J.L. 2014.  Population status and threats to Flesh-footed Shearwaters (Puffinus carneipes) in South and Western Australia.  ICES Journal of Marine Science: 72: 316-327.

Priddel, D., Carlile, N., Fullagar, P., Hutton, I. & O’Neill, L. 2006.  Decline in the distribution and abundance of flesh-footed shearwaters (Puffinus carneipes) on Lord Howe Island, Australia.  Biological Conservation 128: 412-424.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 22 December 2025

NOTE:  ACAP Monthly Missives are more personal than those news articles that are regularly posted in ACAP Latest News.  The series offers the opportunity to go behind and beyond factual events and current news, giving opinions on matters related to the conservation of all the members of the tubenose group of birds.  The opinions expressed in ACAP Monthly Missives are not to be taken as those of the ACAP Secretariat or any of the Agreement’s Parties.