--- title: "ACAP Breeding Sites No. 14. Kaena Point, Oahu, Hawaii protects its Laysan Albatrosses and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters behind a predator-proof fence" --- # ACAP Breeding Sites No. 14. Kaena Point, Oahu, Hawaii protects its Laysan Albatrosses and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters behind a predator-proof fence ![](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/L/Laysan/Laysan Albatross Kaena Point Lindsay Young 1 shrunk.jpg)  A small group of [Near Threatened](http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=3958) Laysan Albatrosses *Phoebastria immutabilis* overlooks the coast guard beacon at Kaena Point on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The beacon was originally constructed in the 1940s when the area was a military reservation. The area is now protected as the [Kaena Point Natural Area Reserve](http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/kaena/Kaena_pt_brochure.pdf). ![](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/L/Laysan/Laysan Albatross Kaena Point Lindsay Young 3 shrunk.jpg)  An adult albatross leaves its nest heading north-east to forage for its chick.  ![](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Islands/Kaena Point Fence Lindsay Young shrunk.jpg)![](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Islands/kaena_point_gate.jpg) One of the entry points that thwarts predators.  Photograph by John Cooper A traditional Hawaiian blessing is given to the predator-proof fence that was installed to protect the breeding colony in 2011. “The fence includes a combination of features that render it predator-proof, including fine mesh, a rolled hood at the top, and a skirt buried underground, designed to prevent animals from jumping, climbing, squeezing through, or digging their way under the fence and into the protected area.” It has three self-closing double-door entry points, one opposite the jumping-off rock ([aLeina Kauhane - soul's leap](http://www.k12.hi.us/~waianaeh/waianhi/kaenleg.html)) within the reserve.  ![](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Albatrosses/L/Laysan/Laysan Albatross Kaena Point Lindsay Young 2 shrunk.jpg) Two female Laysan Albatrosses tend their chick. One third of the pairs in this female- biased colony are of two females that cooperate with each other to rear a chick. ![](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Islands/Kaena Point Lindsay Young shrunk.jpg)  Photographs by Lindsay Young and Eric Vanderwerf unless stated A view of Kaena Point from the light tower. Most of the albatrosses nest behind the dunes in the background. ![](https://acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Islands/kaena_point_fence.jpg)  Photograph by John Cooper The predator-proof fencing has led to improved breeding by both the albatrosses and by Wedge-tailed Shearwaters *Puffinus pacificus* following the removal of rodents, mongooses and feral cats. A few Black-footed Albatrosses *Phoebastria nigripes* have started to visit Kaena Point, perhaps attracted by models. It is hoped that Black-foots will eventually commence to breed. [Click here](https://acap.aq/index.php/en/component/search/?searchword=Kaena%20point&searchphrase=all&Itemid=211) to access earlier ACAP news items on Kaena Point and its seabirds. **Selected references:** Aila Jr, W.J. 2012. Ka’ena predator proof fence helps restore native dune ecosystem albatross nesting at highest recorded levels. [*‘Elepaio* 72(4): 28](http://hawaiiaudubon.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/julyaug-elepaio-vol-724.pdf). Anon. 2012. Shearwaters fledge in record numbers at Ka‘ena Point following completion of predator proof fence. [*‘Elepaio*](http://hawaiiaudubon.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/elepaio-vol-72-1.pdf) 72(1): 7. Young, L.C., VanderWerf, E.A., Mitchell, C., Yuen, E., Miller, C.J., Smith, D.G. & Swenson, C. 2012. *[The use of Predator Proof Fencing as a Management Tool in the Hawaiian Islands: a Case Study of Ka`ena Point Natural Area Reserve](http://www.pacificrimconservation.com/PDF_Docs/83_Young_et_al_2012_Kaena_fence_technical_report.pdf)*. Technical Report No. 180. Honolulu: The Hawai`i-Pacific Islands Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit & Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, University of Hawai`i. 82 pp. Young, L.C., VanderWerf, E.A., Smith, D.G., Polhemus, J., Swenson, N., Swenson, C., Liesemeyer, B.R., Gagne, B. & Conant, S. 2009. Demography and natural history of Laysan Albatross on Oahu, Hawaii. [*Wilson Journal of Ornithology* 121:722-729](http://www.pacificrimconservation.com/PDF_Docs/64.pdf). Young, L.C., Zaun, B.J. & Vanderwerf, E.A. 2008. Successful same-sex pairing in Laysan albatross. [*Biology Letters* 4: 323-325](http://www.pacificrimconservation.com/PDF_Docs/58%20Young%20et%20al%202008%20same%20sex%20pairing%20in%20albatross.pdf). VanderWerf, E.A. & Young, L.C. 2011. Estimating survival and life stage transitions in the Laysan Albatross using multi-state mark-recapture models. [*Auk*128: 726-736](http://www.pacificrimconservation.com/PDF_Docs/75_Laysan_Albatross_Mark-Recapture.pdf). *Lindsay Young & Eric Vanderwerf, [Pacific Rim Conservation](http://www.pacificrimconservation.com/) and John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 21 March 2013*