2 research outputs found
Constructing a Predator Exclusionary Fence to Protect Hawaiian Petrels (Pterodroma sandwichensis) at Hawai῾i Volcanoes National Park
Reports were scanned in black and white at a resolution of 600 dots per inch and were converted to text using Adobe Paper Capture Plug-in.Remnant nesting colonies of endangered Hawaiian Petrels, or ‘Ua’u (Pterodroma sandwichensis), on Mauna Loa, Hawai’i Island, are primarily threatened by feral cats. At Hawai῾i Volcanoes National Park, trapping success has been variable due several challenges, including the difficulty of accessing remote, subalpine (9,000’) sites. To create a core area free from cat predation, the park, with support from multiple partners, constructed a five mile barrier fence encircling 640 acres of the richest known concentration of subalpine Hawaiian Petrel nests on Mauna Loa. We report on key fence design elements, pilot studies, step by step construction details, concurrent and subsequent monitoring, and lessons learned throughout the project for the benefit of other managers considering exclusionary fencing
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Fencing to Protect Hawaiian Petrels from Feral Cats: A Progress Update
On Hawaii Island, within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, remnant nesting colonies of Hawaiian petrels, or ‘Ua’u, persisting in subalpine lava flows of Mauna Loa are threatened by feral cats. Trapping has not fully protected these approximately 60 known nests. In some years, cats have killed multiple petrels over the protracted breeding season. To create a core area free from cat predation, the Natural Resources Management Division of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, with support from multiple partners, is constructing a 5.5-mile-long barrier fence around the largest known colony. Project planning began in 2009, and fence construction started in 2013. Our design, modified from an Australian fence, is skirted to the substrate at the bottom and rolled over at the top to form a springy, outward-facing arc. Work to date includes finalizing the route, helicoptering in fencing materials and gear to the 9,000+ foot elevation site, pulverizing a narrow work corridor along the fence route (most of it on rough, aa lava), installing approximately 3,900 posts, and attaching visibility marking tape to alert flying petrels. We anticipate needing 1-2 additional work seasons to complete the fence. Ongoing petrel nest monitoring will help us assess response of the colony. Additionally, recently-installed interpretive panels inform park visitors of the conservation needs of this elusive bird