Seabird mortality induced by land-based artificial lights.
Artificial lights at night cause high mortality of seabirds, one of the most endangered groups of birds globally. Fledglings of burrow-nesting seabirds, and to a lesser extent adults, are attracted to and then grounded (i.e., forced to land) by lights when they fly at night. We reviewed the current state of knowledge of seabird attraction to light to identify information gaps and propose measures to address the problem. Although species in families such as Alcidae and Anatidae can be grounded by artificial light, the most affected seabirds are petrels and shearwaters (Procellariiformes). At least 56 species of Procellariiformes, more than one-third of them (24) threatened, are subject to grounding by lights. Seabirds grounded by lights have been found worldwide, mainly on oceanic islands but also at some continental locations. Petrel breeding grounds confined to formerly uninhabited islands are particularly at risk from light pollution due to tourism and urban sprawl. Where it is impractical to ban external lights, rescue programs of grounded birds offer the most immediate and employed mitigation to reduce the rate of light-induced mortality and save thousands of birds every year. These programs also provide useful information for seabird management. However, these data are typically fragmentary, biased, and uncertain and can lead to inaccurate impact estimates and poor understanding of the phenomenon of seabird attraction to lights. We believe the most urgently needed actions to mitigate and understand light-induced mortality of seabirds are estimation of mortality and effects on populations; determination of threshold light levels and safe distances from light sources; documentation of the fate of rescued birds; improvement of rescue campaigns, particularly in terms of increasing recovery rates and level of care; and research on seabird-friendly lights to reduce attraction.
Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avda. Américo Vespucio s/n, 41092, Seville, Spain.
Airam
A
Rodríguez
Island Conservation, 2100 Delaware Avenue, Suite 1, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, U.S.A.
Nick D
ND
Holmes
Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa.
Peter G
PG
Ryan
West Coast Penguin Trust, P.O. Box 70, Charleston, 7865, West Coast, New Zealand.
Kerry-Jayne
KJ
Wilson
Ornithological Society of French Polynesia, P.O. Box 7023, 98719, Taravao, Tahiti.
Lucie
L
Faulquier
Ringed Storm-Petrel Project, Joaquín Sorolla 157, Lima 41, Peru.
Yovana
Y
Murillo
Kauai Endangered Seabird Recovery Project, P.O. Box 81, Hanapepe 96741, Kauai, HI, U.S.A.
André F
AF
Raine
Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project, 4234 Hana Highway, Haiku, 96708-5404, HI, U.S.A.
Jay F
JF
Penniman
Department of Oceanography & Fisheries (DOP), University of the Azores, MARE (Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre), IMAR (Institute of Marine Research), Rua Prof. Dr Frederico Machado 4, PT-9901-862, Horta, Azores, Portugal.
Verónica
V
Neves
Canary Islands' Ornithology and Natural History Group (GOHNIC), La Malecita s/n, 38480 Buenavista del Norte, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
Beneharo
B
Rodríguez
Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Avda. Américo Vespucio s/n, 41092, Seville, Spain.
Juan J
JJ
Negro
Research Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, P.O. Box 97, Cowes, Phillip Island, Victoria, 3922, Australia.
André
A
Chiaradia
Research Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, P.O. Box 97, Cowes, Phillip Island, Victoria, 3922, Australia.
Peter
P
Dann
Save Our Shearwaters, P.O. Box 3330, Lihue, 96766, Kauai, HI, U.S.A.
Tracy
T
Anderson
BirdLife Malta, Flat 2, Xemxija Waterfront Apartments, Triq Is-Simar, Xemxija, SPB9025, Malta.
Benjamin
B
Metzger
Environmental Science Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, 1646, Abiko, Abiko-shi, Chiba, 270-1194, Japan.
Masaki
M
Shirai
The Hutton's Shearwater Charitable Trust, P.O. Box 58 Kaikōura 7340, New Zealand.
Lorna
L
Deppe
BirdsCaribbean, 4201 Wilson Blvd 110-174, Arlington, VA, 22203, U.S.A.
Jennifer
J
Wheeler
Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge, P.O. Box 1918, Kailua, HI, 96734, U.S.A.
Peter
P
Hodum
Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds, Travessa das Torres 2A, 1° andar, 9060-314 Funchal, Madeira, Portugal.
Catia
C
Gouveia
Direção Regional dos Assuntos do Mar; Secretaria Regional do Mar, Ciência e Tecnologia; Governo Regional dos Açores; Colónia Alemã - Apartado 9, 9900-014, Horta, Azores, Portugal.
Vanda
V
Carmo
Direção Regional dos Assuntos do Mar; Secretaria Regional do Mar, Ciência e Tecnologia; Governo Regional dos Açores; Colónia Alemã - Apartado 9, 9900-014, Horta, Azores, Portugal.
Gilberto P
GP
Carreira
Ringed Storm-Petrel Project, Veterinary Science School, Ricardo Palma University, Av. Benavides 5440, Lima 33, Perú.
Luis
L
Delgado-Alburqueque
Centro Regional de Estudios y Educación Ambiental, Universidad de Antofagasta (CREA-UA), 602 Angamos Av., Antofagasta, Chile.
Carlos
C
Guerra-Correa
Société d'Études Ornithologiques de la Réunion, 13, ruelle des Orchidées 97440 Saint André, La Réunion, France.
François-Xavier
FX
Couzi
Kauai Endangered Seabird Recovery Project, P.O. Box 81, Hanapepe 96741, Kauai, HI, U.S.A.
Marc
M
Travers
UMR ENTROPIE, Université de la Réunion 15, avenue René Cassin - CS 92003 97744 Saint Denis Cédex 9, La Réunion, France.
Matthieu Le
ML
Corre
D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004779:Environment Design; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D062312:Islands; D008027:Light; D009026:Mortality; D009792:Oceans and Seas
campaña de rescate; contaminación lumínica; desorientación; disorientation; illumination; iluminación; light pollution; orientación; orientation; petrel; rescue campaign