HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

38

TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

Requesting THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO study  the effects of SPORTS field AND COURT lights on the migratory patterns of seabirds in hawaii.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii is home to over thirty species of endangered birds, including various seabirds endemic to Hawaii such as the ‘a‘o or Newell's shearwater; and

 

     WHEREAS, seabirds rely on the moon and stars for navigation, and are prone to mistake bright lights of sports fields, hotels, parking lots, and other places for the moon and stars; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2005, federal wildlife officials notified the county of Kauai that the lighting at evening high school football games was hurting migratory birds, in violation of the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act; and

 

     WHEREAS, the county of Kauai reached an agreement with prosecutors in which the county agreed to install shielded lights at Kauai's three football fields, at an expense to the county, because the county was facing possible federal prosecution; and

 

     WHEREAS, each county is potentially at risk of incurring related expenses to comply with federal law regarding the migratory patterns of endangered birds; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to study the effects of sports field and court lights on the migratory patterns of seabirds in Hawaii; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to submit a report of findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2012; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Seabirds; Migration; Effect of Field Lights