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The internationally Endangered Newell's Shearwater Puffinus newelli, endemic to the "high islands' of Hawaii, USA, is at risk from alien predators, collisions with power lines and towers, and from artificial lighting which downs especially fledglings.   The species is categorized as "Threatened" in the USA under the Endangered Species Act of 1973

However, efforts are being made to improve the conservation status of the species.  For example, the controversial "Trap, Neuter, and Release" feral cat control programme on Kaua‘i is being reconsidered (click here).  See also http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_677905e2-97f4-11e0-b89b-001cc4c002e0.html.

The Kaua'i Seabird Habitat Conservation Plan (KSHCP) Project was initiated in 2005 in order to foster outreach and implementation of island-wide measures aimed at avoiding and minimizing the harmful impacts of outdoor lighting, utilities and other sources of incidental take on endangered and threatened seabirds, including Newell's Shearwater.  See also the web site of the 'Save our Shearwaters' programme of the Kauai Humane Society.

The problems of artificial lighting and collisions with human-made structures are not hugely significant for ACAP-listed albatrosses and petrels, because most breed on uninhabited islands with limited infrastructure.  However, the problems of introduced predators, including feral cats, but also rodents and feral pigs, are acute at a number of breeding localities.  Click here to access ACAP's Guidelines for the Eradication of Introduced Mammals from Breeding Sites of ACAP-listed Seabirds.

Selected References:

Day, R.H. & Cooper, B.A. 1995.  Patterns of movement of Dark-rumped Petrels and Newell's Shearwaters on Kauai.  Condor 97: 1011-1027.

Day, R.H., Cooper, B.A. & Telfer, T.C. 2003.  Decline of Townsend's (Newell's) shearwaters (Puffinus auricularis newelli) on Kauai, Hawaii.  Auk 120: 669-679.

Podolsky, R., Ainley, D.G., Spencer, G., Deforest, L. & Nur, N. 1998.  Mortality of Newell's Shearwaters caused by collisions with urban structures in Kauai.  Colonial Waterbirds 21: 20-34.

Telfer, T.C., Sincock, J.L., Byrd, G.V. & Reed, J.R. 1987.  Attraction of Hawaiian seabirds to lights: conservation efforts and effects of moon phase.  Wildlife Society Bulletin 15: 406-413.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 18 July 2011, updated 19 July 2011