Crash-landed Hutton’s shearwater fledglings and light pollution

Over 200 endangered Hutton’s shearwaters (Puffinus huttoni) fledglings downed by bright lights were rescued from roads in and around Kaikoura on New Zealand’s South Island during the 2014/15 breeding season. Following collection by volunteers the young birds were measured, weighed, banded and released to sea by the Hutton’s Shearwater Charitable Trust and Albatross Encounter. When the fledglings depart their only two remaining mountain colonies in the Seaward Kaikoura Range inland of Kaikoura and head towards the ocean, they unfortunately become attracted and disorientated by the town’s street lights. Mitigation measures are currently underway.

See full article: http://www.acap.aq/en/news/latest-news/2075-crash-landed-hutton-s-shearwater-fledglings-get-rescued-from-the-effects-of-light-pollution-in-new-zealand-while-research-on-their-at-sea-movements-continues