History of endemic Hawaiian birds: Part I: population histories, species accounts: seabirds: Newell shearwater ('A'o)

Abstract

Puffinus puffinus newelli is a stout, medium-sized shearwater with dark upperparts and light underparts. It was first described in 1894. Exhaustive search uncovered some 204 observations, collection records, reports and related statements on relative abundance and geographical distribution from 1887 to 1978. All data are arranged in geographical and chronological order and systematically analyzed. Distribution at-sea and outside expected range (extra-limital) are given. Numbers of island records are shown by U. S. Geological Survey quadrangle. References and names of observers are cited. Completeness of data, erroneous and doubtful records are addressed. Findings are summarized. It is concluded that only a small fraction of the once-large population is presently extant and that the future of this subspecies as part of the world’s living avifauna cannot be viewed with optimism if the sole remaining colonies (on Kaua'i) continue their apparent decline.