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

As the only Federal and State permitted wildlife facility on Kauaβ€˜i, Save Our Shearwaters provides life-saving care to Hawaii’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)!

Check out our Instagram @saveourshearwaters to see SOS patient stories!

Happy Freedom Friday! This adult Black-crowned Night-Heron / Auku‘u was brought into SOS last month. S/he suffered from head trauma and was barely able to move or lift her head up on arrival. • At intake, we treated with an anti-inflammatory and subcutaneous fluids. Over the next several days she slowly regain strength and the neurological symptoms began to subside. By day 17, she was completely recovered and able to be released back into the wild! We love a happy ending! πŸ₯°πŸŒΊ • • • #saveourshearwaters #wildlifeconservation #wildliferehab #kauai #hawaii #conservation #wildliferescue #birds #seabirds #nonprofit #rescue #rehab #release #educate #wildlife #rehabilitation #nature #birdstagram #native #species #sustainability #shearwaters #herons #birdsofhawaii
Happy World Seabird Day! Things are shakin' and groovin' at SOS, just like this Red-footed Booby / 'Δ€ in our pool! We hope you have a minute to enjoy this video of his/her bath time and take a minute to appreciate all the beautiful seabirds that grace us with their presence worldwide. Mahalo for loving seabirds and supporting our work πŸ€™πŸ» • • • #saveourshearwaters #wildlifeconservation #wildliferehab #kauai #hawaii #conservation #wildliferescue #birds #seabirds #nonprofit #rescue #rehab #release #educate #wildlife #rehabilitation #nature #birdstagram #native #species #sustainability #shearwaters
And the answer to What Bird Wednesday is… the Newell’s Shearwater / ‘A‘o! These birds are currently nesting up in the mountains on Kaua‘i. Hence the brood patch posted on Wednesday πŸ€— • The bird pictured is MMJ112.
And the answer to What Bird Wednesday is… the Newell’s Shearwater / ‘A‘o! These birds are currently nesting up in the mountains on Kaua‘i. Hence the brood patch posted on Wednesday πŸ€— • The bird pictured is MMJ112. S/he was originally found in Waimea earlier this week after a suspected collision. She had a scuff mark on the right side of her face and a very small chip on her bill. Luckily, she was bright, alert, active, and waterproof! She was released only a day after intake in great condition! 🌺 • Shearwater season is right around the corner (Sept. 15 - Dec. 15), so keep those eyes peeled for downed birds πŸ‘€ • • • #saveourshearwaters #wildlifeconservation #wildliferehab #kauai #hawaii #conservation #wildliferescue #birds #seabirds #nonprofit #rescue #rehab #release #educate #wildlife #rehabilitation #nature #birdstagram #native #species #sustainability #shearwaters
It’s What Bird Wednesday! Let’s test those skills πŸ€— • Can anyone name what species of bird is pictured above on its back? This patient was admitted yesterday and was sporting a brood patch! A brood patch is an area of featherless sk
It’s What Bird Wednesday! Let’s test those skills πŸ€— • Can anyone name what species of bird is pictured above on its back? This patient was admitted yesterday and was sporting a brood patch! A brood patch is an area of featherless skin some bird species develop in nesting season to incubate their eggs. • Leave your best guess in the comments below ⬇️⬇️ Hint: Check out that leg coloration! 🧐 • • • #saveourshearwaters #wildlifeconservation #wildliferehab #kauai #hawaii #conservation #wildliferescue #birds #seabirds #nonprofit #rescue #rehab #release #educate #wildlife #rehabilitation #nature #birdstagram #native #species #sustainability #shearwaters
Happy Freedom Friday, folks! This week we had the privilege of returning a feisty adult Wedge-tailed Shearwater / 'Ua'u kani back to the wild! • BSV175 came to us on 6/13 after being found on the south side of Kauai. A concerned citizen brought this downed bird to the Koloa fire station so we could pick it up and bring it to our facility. A full examination revealed a large (~2cm) scuff mark along with a very swollen and bruised right cheek and chin. We'll never know for sure what happened to BSV175, but his injuries indicate a collision of some sort. For several days the SOS team provided rest, food, and medication to reduce his/her pain and inflammation. Thankfully, the swelling reduced significantly and no neurological issues developed from the trauma. BSV175 then enjoyed some pool time to ensure he was completely waterproof prior to release. He was successfully released on 6/24! Thanks to the community of Kauai for rescuing this shearwater in need and the Kauai fire stations for continuing to be a safe drop-off site for our native wildlife. πŸ€—πŸ€™πŸ» • • • #saveourshearwaters #wildlifeconservation #wildliferehab #kauai #hawaii #conservation #wildliferescue #birds #seabirds #nonprofit #rescue #rehab #release #educate #wildlife #rehabilitation #nature #birdstagram #native #species #sustainability #shearwaters
Happy Medical Monday! Today we’ve got some (sneaky πŸ‘€) footage of one of our current patients: JEN328, a juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron / 'Auku'u! At first glance, it's clear to see how striking these birds are. Literally, they hunt by jabbing those long, sharp bills into freshwater ponds to strike and catch a variety of prey items (fish, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates, even small mammals)! 🐟 We're also big fans of their streaked, shaggy, brown plumage. Check out the mohawk (moheron? 😝) on JEN328! • This footage also reveals some of the ways we integrate their natural history with rehabilitative care. In the wild, herons perch and forage in trees and shrubs, taking cover in vegetation whenever they feel threatened 🌳 To mimic this, we offer herons a variety of perching material at different heights, tucked into leafy vegetation so they have places to hide and feel safe. We also provide the opportunity to "hunt" for their food by providing a large, deep bowl of water with a variety of food items. Today's menu: a selection of fine fish! 🍽 All aspects of housing and diet/method of administration depend on a combination of the patient's natural history and current condition☝️ • This patient is in a dimly-lit, quiet, crate while s/he continues to stabilize. In a few days, he should be ready to move into a large outdoor enclosure that mimics his natural environment further πŸŒΏπŸ’§ Doing our best to take this 'Auku'u from Medical Monday to Freedom Friday! πŸ‘ • As we share more about our work, it’s important to also include this reminder: Do not attempt to rehabilitate a wild animal on your own. If you do come across wildlife in need, call your local rehabilitation facility for advice on the situation/how to go about getting the animal into care if necessary! We all have the same goal ☺️ Mahalo nui loa 🌱
Happy World Oceans Day! ☺️ We aren't called the blue planet for nothing! Our oceans make up ~70% of the Earth's surface, and today we're celebrating all the life that it sustains. 🌎 Not only worthy of awe for their sheer size and beauty, oceans dese
Happy World Oceans Day! ☺️ We aren't called the blue planet for nothing! Our oceans make up ~70% of the Earth's surface, and today we're celebrating all the life that it sustains. 🌎 Not only worthy of awe for their sheer size and beauty, oceans deserve admiration for the long list of ecosystem services they provide. • Even if you don't live near a coast, you are still intimately connected to the ocean. From the air you breathe and the food you eat, to the products and materials you use everyday, the ocean plays a profound role in providing for our life 🌱 Of course, the ocean also provides a home for our beloved seabirds and the fish they eat! They wouldn't exist without the ocean. And neither would we. • This year's World Oceans Day theme is "The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods." The sad fact is, our oceans are sick. πŸ€’ They are filling with plastic and pollutants, unique and vital habitats are being destroyed from warm, acidic water, and fish populations are depleting from overharvesting. Organisms as small as single-celled diatoms πŸ”¬ and as large as the 100ft-long blue whale πŸ‹ are struggling to survive in our changing oceans. Today we'd like to encourage you to think about how you can thank the ocean for all the life it gives and sustains by making positive changes to heal our planet πŸ’« • What are three easy things you can do to help our oceans? Reduce single-use plastic use βœ… Make sure all your trash ends up in a bin and doesn't become more ocean debris. βœ… Be conscious of your commercial meat consumption and choose sustainably harvested seafood βœ… • Learn more about how amazing our oceans truly are and how you can help protect and restore them by exploring UN's World Oceans Day website: https://unworldoceansday.org/ 🌊 Thanks for joining!
It may be Monday, but at least it’s Morphology Monday! πŸ€“ Today we're learning more about the unique adaptations of bird respiratory systems!πŸ¦‰Humans and most other animals have a simple "breath-in/breath-out" system, in which the same air that was just inhaled gets exhaled in the same breath. 🫁 Though we get what we need from our way of breathing, we struggle to get enough oxygen at altitudes above 20,000ft. Our fascinating Aves have evolved a system that maximizes gas exchange with every breath, which allows them to accomplish their amazing arial feats. Some birds are capable of flying at over 25,000ft! 😡 Keep reading to learn a few more ways their respiratory systems differ ⬇️ • 1) Even though the size of avian lungs are smaller than same-sized mammals, their total respiratory systems are larger πŸ‘ How? Birds have evolved a unique system of "air sacs" surrounding their lungs which hold and push oxygenated air through the lungs at each in/exhale. Unidirectional flow of air from the air sacs across the parabronchi and air capillaries (where gas exchange occurs) means birds can get oxygen even during exhalation! 😯 • 2) When compared to mammals of similar body size, birds have 25% more surface area in their lungs and capillary walls that are 2.5 times thinner. These two factors greatly increase the efficiency of gas exchange πŸ“ˆ • 3) Birds do not have a diaphram and do not rely on subatmospheric pressure to fill their lungs (like we do). Instead, movement of air in and through the respiratory system of a bird occurs through muscular action πŸͺΆ • The great visual you see here is courtesy of information designer Eleanor Lutz 🧬 You can find this and other science illustrations on her blog, Tabletop Whale! Additional references in the comments below πŸ€— Thanks for joining!
It's been a gorgeous, sunny day on Kaua'i, so we thought we'd spread some Aloha and love by sharing this recent Red-footed Booby / 'Δ€ release! β˜€οΈπŸŒ± • MMJ080 came to SOS on Valentine’s Day (2/14) with a puncture wound on her right wing, ove
It's been a gorgeous, sunny day on Kaua'i, so we thought we'd spread some Aloha and love by sharing this recent Red-footed Booby / 'Δ€ release! β˜€οΈπŸŒ± • MMJ080 came to SOS on Valentine’s Day (2/14) with a puncture wound on her right wing, over the radius and ulna. We treated the injury over the course of several weeks, and then she was transferred to @hawaiiwildlifecenter to allow her flight feathers to regrow in a large outdoor aviary. They came in beautifully! 🀩 She was successfully released back on Kaua'i yesterday, following a day of pooling and supportive care at SOS to make sure waterproofing was still intact after her flight. She was sure to pause for a short photoshoot before taking off into the wind! • We are so thankful to partner with HWC for long-term cases such as this one! Mahalo nui loa to all that had a hand in getting her back out to sea ☺️🌱 • • • #saveourshearwaters #wildlifeconservation #wildliferehab #kauai #hawaii #conservation #wildliferescue #birds #seabirds #nonprofit #rescue #rehab #release #educate #wildlife #rehabilitation #nature #birdstagram #native #species #sustainability #shearwaters #sulidae
What Bird Wednesday was a tough one this week! Way to go to those of you who guessed Bulwer's Petrel / 'Ou! πŸ‘ These little guys breed on/near Kaua'i in small numbers, but the best way to spot them in Hawai'i is on the water. • This 'Ou was reha
What Bird Wednesday was a tough one this week! Way to go to those of you who guessed Bulwer's Petrel / 'Ou! πŸ‘ These little guys breed on/near Kaua'i in small numbers, but the best way to spot them in Hawai'i is on the water. • This 'Ou was rehabilitated back in 2018 🌱 S/he had sustained a collision injury and was monitored overnight for symptoms of neurological damage. This bird also had a brood patch so we were very hopeful for a speedy turnaround! 🐣 Thankfully no symptoms surfaced and she was zipping back home (and likely the islet in the distance) the next day! ☺️ • Source: https://birdsoftheworld-org.proxy.birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/bulpet/cur/introduction Sound Source: https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Bulweria-bulwerii (recordist: Marcel Gil Velasco) Photo Source: Tracy Anderson • • • #saveourshearwaters #wildlifeconservation #wildliferehab #kauai #hawaii #conservation #wildliferescue #birds #seabirds #nonprofit #rescue #rehab #release #educate #wildlife #rehabilitation #nature #birdstagram #native #bulwerspetrel #ou
Ready for another What Bird Wednesday?! 🧠⚑️That sound you hear is not a heartbeat... It’s a native bird that nests primarily throughout the NW Hawaiian Islands and small islets of the main islands 😯 Can you identify the species based on the following three hints? πŸ” Leave your best guess in the comments and check back tomorrow for the answer! • Hint 1: This bird has sooty brown plumage, a black bill, and pale legs πŸ₯Έ • Hint 2: The largest colony of this species is located on NΔ«hoa and is estimated to contain 75,000-100,000 breeding pairs πŸ—Ί • Hint 3: Even though this bird weighs in at only ~100g and is about the size of your hand, it spends most of it's life on the vast open oceans 🌊 • • • #saveourshearwaters #wildlifeconservation #wildliferehab #kauai #hawaii #conservation #wildliferescue #birds #seabirds #nonprofit #rescue #rehab #release #educate #wildlife #rehabilitation #nature #birdstagram #native #species #outreach #endangeredspecies #education
Happy Medical Monday! Today we'd like to introduce you to the art and science of splinting fractures! • Please never attempt to splint an injured animal by yourself. Bring any hurt wildlife to your local rehabilitation center or vet ASAP so the
Happy Medical Monday! Today we'd like to introduce you to the art and science of splinting fractures! • Please never attempt to splint an injured animal by yourself. Bring any hurt wildlife to your local rehabilitation center or vet ASAP so the professionals can have the best chances to heal it. • Some fractures may require surgical intervention (such as the fracture featured in the first photo), and we partner with veterinarians when a surgery is necessary. Bonus points to whoever can name the fractured bone in the first photo! Other fractures heal well with splints that we can make in-house. The splint size, shape, rigidity, and weight must be suitable for the fracture site and species. That means we choose from a variety of splint materials based on the patient's needs. We aim to immobilize the bone fragments above and below the fracture site. This stabilizes the fracture while leaving the rest of the bird as unrestrained as possible. There is a different splint shape and wrap technique for each bone fracture. These are two similar splints designed to immobilize the lower leg of two differently sized birds. • Getting the perfect fit is important. Too big: the bones will move and may not stay well aligned. Too small: you risk compressing the fracture and cause further damage/swelling. Once the splint frame has been made, it's important to add padding to minimize pain around that tender fracture site. It's also vital to ensure the splint will remain in place while the bird sits, stands, and makes every effort to get if off! • We use quite a few special materials to achieve the perfect splint! Once the fracture has been secured, we let the healing begin. We provide medications to relieve pain and reduce swelling, and supplement patient's diets with calcium to aid in bone growth. Thankfully, bird bones typically heal very quickly (1-3 weeks) so our broken birds can be in and out with no extended stay necessary! • • • #saveourshearwaters #wildlifeconservation #wildliferehab #kauai #hawaii #conservation #wildliferescue #birds #seabirds #nonprofit #rescue #rehab #release #educate #wildlife #rehabilitation #nature #birdstagram #native
And the answer to What Bird Wednesday is... Great Frigatebird / 'Iwa! MCB074, to be exact 😊 He had tumbled into the ocean while pursuing prey and quickly became waterlogged. A nearby boat crew retrieved him from the water, handed him off to a visito
And the answer to What Bird Wednesday is... Great Frigatebird / 'Iwa! MCB074, to be exact 😊 He had tumbled into the ocean while pursuing prey and quickly became waterlogged. A nearby boat crew retrieved him from the water, handed him off to a visitor for transport to the nearest fire station, and MCB074 was picked up by our Rehabilitation Manager shortly after 🌱🩺 • He was in a critical state, limp and unable to fully open his eyes. Upon intake he was emaciated, dehydrated, cold, and riddled with parasites. It was a journey that had to be taken slow, but on this day three years ago MCB074 headed back to sea! 🌊 The video was taken right as he made it out, getting those wings adjusted before he settled into a strong and steady soar ☺️ • We say it a lot, but cases like these are a testament to the greater impact we’re able to have when we work together πŸ™Œ Mahalo nui loa to all that have played a part in helping us help them. Over 32,000 native birds released, and counting! 🌱 • • • #saveourshearwaters #wildlifeconservation #wildliferehab #kauai #hawaii #conservation #wildliferescue #birds #seabirds #nonprofit #rescue #rehab #release #educate #wildlife #rehabilitation #nature #birdstagram #native #species
Happy What Bird Wednesday folks! It's not a rooster and it's not an oil slick... Can you ID the native species this plumage belongs to? 🀩 It's a seabird, but you won’t catch these guys landing on the ocean surface! Unlike nearly all other seab
Happy What Bird Wednesday folks! It's not a rooster and it's not an oil slick... Can you ID the native species this plumage belongs to? 🀩 It's a seabird, but you won’t catch these guys landing on the ocean surface! Unlike nearly all other seabirds, they are not waterproof. πŸ’¦πŸš« Leave your guess in the comments below and check back tomorrow for the answer! • • • #saveourshearwaters #wildlifeconservation #wildliferehab #kauai #hawaii #conservation #wildliferescue #birds #seabirds #nonprofit #rescue #rehab #release #educate #wildlife #rehabilitation #nature #birdstagram #native #species #outreach
Did you catch What Bird Wednesday’s mystery pool party? 🀿 It’s time to run through the guest list! There were three Wedge-tailed Shearwaters / 'Ua'u kani, a Newell’s Shearwater / 'A'o (back right), and a juvenile White-tailed Tropicbird/Koa'e kea (back left)! • It’s no open ocean, but our rehabilitation pools play a huge part when it comes to seabird patient success!πŸ’§Time on water benefits these species in many ways, a few being: The opportunity to maintain waterproofing by bathing/preening, helping prevent pressure sores by giving those sensitive/water-loving feet a break, and improving overall mentation by supporting natural movement and behaviors in an environment more similar to their own β˜€οΈ • Thanks for tuning in! πŸ€— • • • #saveourshearwaters #wildlifeconservation #wildliferehab #kauai #hawaii #conservation #wildliferescue #birds #seabirds #nonprofit #rescue #rehab #release #educate #wildlife #rehabilitation #nature #birdstagram #native #species #endangeredspecies #outreach #education
Happy Freedom Friday! This adult Black-crowned Night-Heron / Auku‘u was brought into SOS last month. S/he suffered from head trauma and was barely able to move or lift her head up on arrival. • At intake, we treated with an anti-inflammat
Happy World Seabird Day! Things are shakin' and groovin' at SOS, just like this Red-footed Booby / 'Δ€ in our pool! We hope you have a minute to enjoy this video of his/her bath time and take a minute to appreciate all the beautiful seabirds that grac
And the answer to What Bird Wednesday is… the Newell’s Shearwater / ‘A‘o! These birds are currently nesting up in the mountains on Kaua‘i. Hence the brood patch posted on Wednesday πŸ€— • The bird pictured is MMJ112. It’s What Bird Wednesday! Let’s test those skills πŸ€— • Can anyone name what species of bird is pictured above on its back? This patient was admitted yesterday and was sporting a brood patch! A brood patch is an area of featherless sk
Happy Freedom Friday, folks! This week we had the privilege of returning a feisty adult Wedge-tailed Shearwater / 'Ua'u kani back to the wild! • BSV175 came to us on 6/13 after being found on the south side of Kauai. A concerned citizen brough
Happy Medical Monday! Today we’ve got some (sneaky πŸ‘€) footage of one of our current patients: JEN328, a juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron / 'Auku'u! At first glance, it's clear to see how striking these birds are. Literally, they hunt by jabb
Happy World Oceans Day! ☺️ We aren't called the blue planet for nothing! Our oceans make up ~70% of the Earth's surface, and today we're celebrating all the life that it sustains. 🌎 Not only worthy of awe for their sheer size and beauty, oceans dese
It may be Monday, but at least it’s Morphology Monday! πŸ€“ Today we're learning more about the unique adaptations of bird respiratory systems!πŸ¦‰Humans and most other animals have a simple "breath-in/breath-out" system, in which the sam
It's been a gorgeous, sunny day on Kaua'i, so we thought we'd spread some Aloha and love by sharing this recent Red-footed Booby / 'Δ€ release! β˜€οΈπŸŒ± • MMJ080 came to SOS on Valentine’s Day (2/14) with a puncture wound on her right wing, ove What Bird Wednesday was a tough one this week! Way to go to those of you who guessed Bulwer's Petrel / 'Ou! πŸ‘ These little guys breed on/near Kaua'i in small numbers, but the best way to spot them in Hawai'i is on the water. • This 'Ou was reha
Ready for another What Bird Wednesday?! 🧠⚑️That sound you hear is not a heartbeat... It’s a native bird that nests primarily throughout the NW Hawaiian Islands and small islets of the main islands 😯 Can you identify the species based on the f
Happy Medical Monday! Today we'd like to introduce you to the art and science of splinting fractures! • Please never attempt to splint an injured animal by yourself. Bring any hurt wildlife to your local rehabilitation center or vet ASAP so the And the answer to What Bird Wednesday is... Great Frigatebird / 'Iwa! MCB074, to be exact 😊 He had tumbled into the ocean while pursuing prey and quickly became waterlogged. A nearby boat crew retrieved him from the water, handed him off to a visito Happy What Bird Wednesday folks! It's not a rooster and it's not an oil slick... Can you ID the native species this plumage belongs to? 🀩 It's a seabird, but you won’t catch these guys landing on the ocean surface! Unlike nearly all other seab
Did you catch What Bird Wednesday’s mystery pool party? 🀿 It’s time to run through the guest list! There were three Wedge-tailed Shearwaters / 'Ua'u kani, a Newell’s Shearwater / 'A'o (back right), and a juvenile White-tailed Tropi