LIHU‘E — Six rescued ‘A‘o were given a helping hand by school children from Island School today when they were released back into the wild as part of the annual E Ho’opomaika’i ‘ia na Manu ‘A‘o (A Cultural Release of the Native Newell’s Shearwater) event. A pule was also offered to the young birds by Kupuna Sabra Kauka before they headed out to sea.
25 fourth-grade school children from Island School gathered at Lydgate Park this morning to help release the young ‘A‘o, or Newell’s Shearwater. These birds were all fledglings that were attracted to artificial light sources on their first flight from their nest burrows and were subsequently grounded. Grounded birds are collected every year by concerned citizens and turned into the Save Our Shearwaters Program for rehabilitation and release.
Kauaʻi Endangered Seabird Recovery Project 