Non native mammalian predators have been identified as one of the largest threats to the survivalof endangered populations of ground nesting seabirds in the hawaiian islands data from theisland of…

This $144,516 cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 1 supports efforts to increase protection of endangered seabirds in montane habitats on Maui and Oahu, Hawaii during their breeding season from October 2022 through September 2027. The funding assists the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, a sub-awardee of the State of Hawaii, to control non-native mammalian predators that threaten Hawaiian petrels, Newell's shearwaters, and their habitat. Reduction of rats, mongooses and cats will decrease depredation of native plants and spread of invasive species and diseases like toxoplasmosis. This supports recovery goals for the seabird species under the Coastal Program (CFDA 15.630), which provides technical and financial assistance for coastal habitat protection and restoration benefiting trust species including threatened and endangered wildlife. The products and services delivered include increased predator control and monitoring efforts aimed at improving seabird breeding success and nutrient inputs to coral reefs from their populations.

Non native mammalian predators have been identified as one of the largest threats to the survivalof endangered populations of ground nesting seabirds in the hawaiian islands data from theisland of kauai has shown a dramatic 94 decline from 1993 2013 for the newell S shearwater puffinus newelli where 90 of the world population is located in addition, data has shown A78 decline of hawaiian petrel pterodroma hawaiiensis during that period as well the control of mammalian predators, including the small indian mongoose, feral cats, and rodents, is one ofthe primary actions recommended for the recovery of these endangered species dlnr 2015 in hawaii, endangered seabirds, return to land from voyaging at sea between the months of february and december to breed during this time birds take shelter in montane underground burrows where they lay eggs, incubate, and rear chicks until fledging the objective of this proposal is to increase protection efforts for endangered seabirds inmontane habitats on maui and oahu during their breeding season when they are most prone to predation events control of non native mammalian predators for the benefit of hawaiian petrels and newell S shearwater is critical to preventing their extinction and supports the recovery potential for these species the work will increase efforts already underway reduction in predators such as rats, mongoose and cats will also benefit the habitat by decreasing depredation of native plants and the spread of invasive plants and diseases such as toxoplasmosis this project will also increase seabird breeding success that has direct benefits to the near shore environment through increaseed nutrient inputs that build coral reef resilience