15 shearwaters killed on Maui

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau

SPRECKELSVILLE, Maui — State conservation officials yesterday were investigating the slaughter of 15 Hawaiian seabirds in a nesting colony near Baldwin Beach, the apparent victims of a loose dog.

The killing of the state and federally protected wedge-tailed shearwaters was reported to state Department of Land and Natural Resources officials Tuesday by residents who live near the nesting area. The bird carcasses were taken for further study to determine the specific cause of death.

"This is a regrettable, and preventable, occurrence. Pet owners need to be responsible for their animals," Peter Young, DLNR chairman, said in a statement.

Young said enforcement officers will be monitoring the popular Pa'ia beach and issuing citations for unleashed dogs.

Shearwater chicks hatch each July and remain in burrows beneath the dunes while their parents feed them, until about November or December. During the early winter months the young birds, often still sporting downy feathers, start to fledge, or learn to fly for the first time, getting ready to head out to sea to feed on their own.

In the spring, the adult breeding birds come in and clean out their burrows with active digging. As they do this, the birds are often vocal and attract the notice of dogs and cats.

"It takes shearwaters four to five years minimum to reach sexual maturity. The losses of future generations from these 15 adults will be really hard to replace," said Fern Duvall, DLNR biologist.

Duvall said that if people should not let dogs run unwatched near beaches with high sand dunes.

Contact Timothy Hurley at thurley@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 244-4880.