One of the most critical phases in the life of petrels (Procellariiformes) is at fledging when young birds pass from parental dependence on land to an independent life at sea. To mitigate mortality at this time, rescue programs are implemented near breeding sites around the world, especially for birds grounded by artificial lights. We evaluated the plumage and body condition of short-tailed shearwater (Ardenna tenuirostris) fledglings captured at colonies just before departure in comparison to fledglings washed up on beaches and to fledglings attracted by artificial light along roads. Beach-washed birds were underweight and in poor condition, suggesting their future survival probabilities at sea were low. Birds rescued on roads as a consequence of light attraction had lower body weights and condition indices than fledglings captured at the colony. However, more than 50% of light-attracted birds had attained similar weights to those of adults, suggesting they have higher probabilities of survival than beach-washed birds. Water-logged birds being washed onto beaches is a natural process, but birds grounded by lighting along roads is an increasing anthropogenic threat that requires management. Thus, management and conservation efforts should be directed to protect birds in the colonies and reduce light-induced mortality, ideally through the strategic reduction of light sources and lateral light spillage. 

All four petrel species breeding on Reunion Island, Indian Ocean, are heavily impacted by collision with manmade infrastructure and light pollution. Rescue campaigns are conducted since 1996 and hundreds of birds were released to the sea annually. Nevertheless, the consequences of these threats on the population remain unknown. A partnership of University of La Reunion -lab ENTROPIE-, a consulting private group -BIOTOPE- and a local NGO for bird conservation -SEOR- investigated the long-term change of the tropical shearwater (Puffinus bailloni) population over a 19-years period, through the study of the vocal activity of colonies in 1996/1997 and 2013/2015 and the number of grounded birds each year. The vocal activity was similar during the two periods, and only four small colonies seem to have disappeared. Numerous new colonies were described suggesting that most favorable habitats are occupied by breeding birds. Furthermore, the number of grounded birds rescued annually is still increasing (the light pollution and the public awareness is increasing as well). All of these results strongly suggest that the population of tropical shearwater in Reunion Island has not collapsed over the period despite massive light pollution (and important collision risk), and that the efficiency of the rescue campaigns could play a crucial role for the survival of the population..
For further information:
Gineste et al, 2016. Tropical Shearwater population stability at Reunion Island, despite light pollution. Journal of Ornithology. In press. DOI 10.1007/s10336-016-1396-5
Corresponding author: benoit.gineste@univ-reunion.fr 
Website of the project : www.biotope.fr/omair/

El 30 de Septiembre participamos en la Noche Europea de los Investigadores dando una charla en Plaza Nueva, Sevilla (20:30h). Toda la información en la página oficial.

The Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) breeds on offshore islets along the windward coast of O'ahu. Fledging chicks are attracted to lights and grounded due to collisions with utility wires and poles. Since 2011, our lab has documented shearwater fallout along a 16-km stretch of the Kalaniana’ole highway during fledging (Nov. – Dec.). Our surveys revealed that shearwater fallout varies significantly from year to year, and in relation to the lunar cycle; with multi-modal distributions that peak during new moon periods. Moreover, a mark-recapture study revealed that the loss rate of shearwater carcasses varies as a function of the number of days since marking, from 24.1% (day 1) to 0.0% (day 8). After the Department of Transportation replaced the highway lights with high-intensity LEDs earlier this year, our 2016 surveys will investigate whether the lights being replaced throughout Hawai’i will impact shearwater fallout. To this end, we will compare the 2016 surveys against our baseline data (2011-2015). To learn more about our research and how you can help us complete the 2016 surveys, please visit https://experiment.com/shearwaters.
David Hyrenbach, Associate Professor of Oceanography             
​Hawaii Pacific University, khyrenbach@hpu.edu

On 5 December 2015 we visited Cape Woolamai on Phillip Island, one of the largest colonies of Short-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna tenuirostris) in the world, to enjoy the huge congregation of shearwaters departing to the ocean. We sat on the top of the cliff waiting for the birds. Just a few minutes later the show started; thousands of shearwaters walked straight to the edge of the cliff and took off towards the ocean. We could see the dark birds without artificial light because of the dawn’s first light. Suddenly a white bird moving in the same fashion as the other shearwaters appeared. We had the camera and managed to get one picture of the bird. This observation was published in the March issue of the Monthly Magazine of the Geelong Field Naturalist Club.