Protecting the ‘Ua‘U Kani

The endangered wedge-tailed shearwater — also known as the ‘ua‘u kani — was in critical danger after many coastal habitats in Hawaii were upended by human development. Other nesting sites were overrun by predators like weasels, rags, or feral cats.

Fortunately for the birds, locals banded together to protect nesting sites by halting development and trapping for predators. As a result, the local population of shearwaters went from just 30 nesting birds to more than 3000!