August Newsletter 2025

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Fallout Season and the Moon

You may have heard us refer to different “peaks” of Fallout Season when our intake numbers are highest. While there are many factors that play a role in which days or weeks end up being our busiest, we pay close attention to the moon in order to anticipate these peaks throughout the season. The shearwaters and petrels that are fledging during Fallout Season (Sept. 15 - Dec. 15) rely on the moon to navigate out to sea. Historically our admission numbers are higher during and around new moons. This is because new moons provide the lowest amount of illumination compared to other moon phases, and thus seabirds are more likely to be mistakenly attracted to the illumination of artificial light instead. Weather conditions like cloudy skies can also reduce the amount of illumination provided by the moon.

While moon phases are what we often look to first when trying to anticipate patient intake numbers, we also pay close attention to sunset and moonrise times. 'A'o / Newell's Shearwaters tend not to leave their burrows until after sunset (Raine, Holmes, Travers, Cooper, & Day, 2017). We can presume that the later the moonrise, and thus the greater the time between leaving their burrow and the moon rising for them to navigate by, the more likely they are to experience fallout. So even when the moon is at favorable illumination (>50%), we could experience significant fallout if the moon isn't rising until several hours after sunset.

These highlighted dates are simply times to be extra vigilant in looking for grounded seabirds. Kaua'i’s fledging shearwaters and petrels are susceptible to fallout all season long and the moon cycle is just one of many factors to consider. So please keep your eyes peeled and have your boxes ready to go come September 15th!

Patient Spotlight

They say things come in threes and this month we’ve had three patients admitted for entanglement in fishing line. This nēnē / Hawaiian Goose was admitted earlier this month with monofilament line wrapped around its lower leg, leaving behind a deep wound once removed at intake. A couple weeks of bandage changes and wound care, and this bird is doing well. We are hopeful this nēnē will continue to heal and be ready to move into an outdoor enclosure soon!

MAK027's leg entangled in fishing line upon intake.

Behind the Scenes

Our conditioning pools will soon be full of shearwaters just like this.

Fallout season is just a couple weeks away! As we anticipate an increase in our patient admissions, and therefore in time spent handling birds over the next few months, our September-December newsletters will be shortened. We will keep you in the loop on our admission numbers and occasional brief program updates. You can also stay up-to-date via our Instagram and Facebook!

Conservation Corner

Lahaina Recovery- Moku'ula

Two years after wildfires devastated Lahaina, Maui is continuing massive recovery efforts. One such effort is restoring the culturally significant wetland area of Moku'ula. You can learn more about this recovery effort here, and stay updated on Lahaina’s recovery, at Maui Recovers.

SOS is an Unincorporated Nonprofit Association and fiscally sponsored by the Hawai'i Wildlife Center, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt, non-profit organization.

As the only Federal and State permitted wildlife facility on Kaua‘i, Save Our Shearwaters provides life-saving care to Hawai'i’s native birds in need. When you donate, you help us continue to rescue, rehabilitate, and release native wildlife. Mahalo nui loa from all of us at SOS (our feathered friends included)!

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