When: November 15, 2024, 1:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Description: Hawaiian petrels, ‘Ua’u, are endangered seabirds that nest in burrows high on the mountain flanks of the main Hawaiian Islands. They breed on land, but make their living over the ocean. During their non-breeding season, these enigmatic seabirds journey huge distances with little effort to their favorite feeding grounds along the California coast. They are seen regularly from pelagic vessels off Half Moon Bay, Monterey Bay, and other central coast locales, with yearly sightings off Morro Bay. Because they feed off shore and are active primarily at night in their remote breeding colonies, Hawaiian Petrels are invisible to most people. Learn about these small but mighty seabirds, their boisterous sky dance and weird vocalizations, their nesting and feeding behaviors, their challenges, and the efforts being made to help them.

About the Speaker: Caren Loebel-Fried is an author/artist from Half Moon Bay and Volcano, Hawai`i. She researched Hawaiian Petrels in their breeding grounds throughout Hawai`i for her new book, Finding Home, a Hawaiian Petrel’s Journey, published by University of Hawai`i Press. Caren co-leads the annual albatross census on Midway Atoll, and her previous award-winning books include, A Perfect Day for an Albatross, published by Cornell Lab Publishing Group. Caren creates illustrated educational books for young people and conservation art for many organizations and agencies.