A large colony of Hawaiian ‘ua‘u kani (wedge-tailed shearwaters) located along a coastal path on the south shore of Kaua‘i has been decimated in two attacks this summer by dogs and feral cats. 

Recently, several more freshly killed birds were found in the area, suggesting that the colony is still being hit hard by dogs and cats. At the same time state biologists searching wedge-tailed shearwater burrows in the area known to have been active this year, found that the burrows were now abandoned, many with dead eggs inside. …

“It appears that the entire colony in this area has been severely depleted, and it is likely that very few breeding birds now remain,” said Thomas Kaiakapu, Kaua‘i wildlife manager for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife. … Read more.

And here’s the latest in other neighbor isle gov’t and politics:

Kauai youth program promotes culture, health

Moari tout geothermal during Big Island visit

Refinishing work to close Lahaina gym

Geothermal fracking ban moves forward

Large-scale development could be too much for South Maui

Mana March costs Kauai county

Still able to meet demand, says Maui water official

Mount Kahili drilling project creeps ahead

Legal short-term rentals on the rise on Molokai

Photo: Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Tern Island. (angrysunbird)

—Chad Blair