Light Attraction in Endangered Procellariiform Birds: Reduction by Shielding Upward Radiation

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Abstract
Autumnal attraction to man-made lighting causes heavy mortality in fledgling Hawaiian seabirds: Newell''s shearwater (Puffinus auricularis newelli), dark-rumped petrel (Pterodroma phaeopygia sandwichensis), adn band-rumpted storm-petrel (Oceanodroma castro). These threatened, endangered and rare species (respectively) approach and circle lights on their first flight from mountain nesting colonies on the island of Kauai [Hawaii, USA] to the sea. Lights of the largest resort were shielded to prevent upward radiation on alternate nights during 2 fledgling seasons. Shielding decreased attraction by nearly 40%. Most attraction occurred 1-4 h after sunset. Full moon dramatically decreased attraction, a phenomenon that has both theoretical and management implications.