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Michael Lohr (Pacific Rim Conservation, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA) and colleagues, writing in ‘Elepaio, the Journal of the Hawai‘i Audubon Society, have analysed the diet of cats trapped within the Ka’ena Point Natural Area Reserve, finding evidence of predation on Wedge-tailed Shearwaters Puffinus pacificus.  The reserve also supports a breeding population of Laysan Albatrosses Phoebastria immutabilis.

Ka'ena Point.  Photograph by Lindsay Young

The paper’s abstract follows:

“Feral and free-ranging cats (Felis catus) are known to prey on a wide variety of native birds in Hawai’i.  At Ka’ena Point Natural Area Reserve on O’ahu, cats were known to prey on nesting seabirds but the extent of predation by individual cats was unknown.  We trapped nine cats immediately prior to the construction of a predator-proof fence during the Wedgetailed Shearwater (Puffinus pacificus) nesting season at Ka’ena Point and analyzed their gut contents.  Rodents and insects comprised the majority of prey for most cats, but three cats each contained the remains of at least one Wedge-tailed Shearwater.  We expect that the exclusion of cats from the area will increase the nest success and survival of native seabirds at Ka’ena Point.”

Wedge-tailed Shearwater.  Photograph by Alan Burger

Click here to access a brochure on the Ka’ena Point Natural Area Reserve.

Reference:

Lohr, M., Young, L.C., VanderWerf, E.A., Miller, C.J. & Leong, H. 2013.  Dietary analysis of free-ranging cats at Kaʻena Point, Hawai'i.  ‘Elepaio 73(3): 1-3.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 26 June 2103