One Full Lunar Cycle
We have documented 36 downed wedge-tailed shearwaters, during 9 road surveys conducted every three days since November 3. Today is day 28 of the study, and our surveys have spanned an entire moon cycle, with the proportion of the lunar disk illuminated increasing from 3% (Nov. 1) to 100% (Nov. 14), and decreasing back down to 1% (Nov. 28).
Overall, the relative fallout (proportion of all downed shearwaters) and the proportion of the lunar disk illuminated nightly are weakly correlated (Pearson correlation, r = -0.313), suggesting a negative relationship similar to what we have documented in previous years.
We anticipate more fallout in the next three surveys, until we reach the new moon (50% lunar disk illuminated) and the number of fledging shearwaters diminishes in mid December.
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