The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative is using concentrated beams of light from lasers attached to transmission poles in an effort to protect seabirds.

The cooperative started using the neon green laser beams in Eleele on June 30 to create a "light fence" it hopes seabirds can see to help them avoid crashing into poles and power lines.

The Newell’s shearwater and endangered Hawaiian petrel are vulnerable to death or injury from crashes when they migrate out to sea at night. The project is part of an experiment conducted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife in ongoing efforts to protect the seabirds.

Developed by Oceanit of Honolulu, the lasers are being installed on six spans adjacent to fields owned by Kauai Coffee. The laser beams run parallel to the ground and do not pose a hazard to aircraft, according to KIUC.

Cary Koide, who oversees the company’s wildlife conservation efforts, said researchers will experiment with different light colors.

"The purpose of this research is to learn more about the birds and their patterns of activity so we can come up with ways to minimize potential hazards and do it in a cost-effective way," said Koide, KIUC’s transmission and distribution manager.

If the experiment is successful, a similar system may be installed on transmission poles between Wailua and the north shore, where seabird incidents are more frequent.