The Prey of Newell's Shearwater Puffinus Newelli in Hawaiian Waters

Although not included in the present analysis owing to low population size, but definitely occurring in the study area (Spear et al. 1995), two endangered seabird species, the Hawaiian Petrel [Pterodroma sandwichensis]… and Newell’s Shearwater…, are both members of the flocking-feeding group of the [eastern tropical Pacific]. The recovery plans for these species dwell only on colony-related impacts to populations (US Fish and Wildlife Service 1983), but given the state of the depleted tuna fisheries and the importance of tuna to these seabirds, further investigation about the relationship between bird population trends and tuna availability is warranted. At the least, a changed food-web structure may require re-definition of how much future growth is possible in these seabird populations. Further monitoring of all ETP seabird populations is important in this regard. That being said, we should expect the diet of Newell’s Shearwater to be similar to that of the other subtopical/tropical seabirds that frequent schools of subsurface predators (i.e. tuna). Such information is important to the future recovery of this rapidly decreasing species. Here, we report for the first time information on the diet of Newell’s Shearwater, derived from individuals in the Kaua’i, Hawaiian Islands, nesting population.