and are vulnerable to damage resulting from landslips and tree fall. In April 2014, Cyclone Ita brought very strong winds to the West Coast along with heavy rain. The storm caused widespread damage across the area of the breeding colonies, although not all colonies were equally affected. After the storm, a survey was conducted at colony locations containing 75% of the estimated breeding population. In 4 out of the 6 colonies surveyed, over half of the breeding habitat had been lost through landslips and fallen trees. Further damage to nesting areas occurred during Cyclone Fehi and Cyclone Gita in 2018. Predation Predation by feral pigs and vagrant dogs are among the top threats to Westland petrels at the breeding colonies. Pigs are a particularly serious threat because they can potentially destroy an entire nesting colony. There have been reports that hunters have deliberately released pigs in areas close to the colonies. Wandering dogs are also a significant threat, because the settlement of Punakaiki is only from the colonies. Other predators such as stoats,and rats and weka may strike during the breeding season when the birds are on land, preying on chicks in burrows and on adult birds. Feral cats are also infrequent predators of petrels. While not predators, concerns have been raised about the threat of burrow destruction by cattle and goats. They can trample burrows and allow access to predators such as weka, that would have been unable to reach them otherwise. Artificial lighting Many types of seabirds are vulnerable to injury and death as a result of being attracted to artificial lights at night. This is a particular threat for petrels and shearwaters. Burrow-nesting seabirds like the Westland petrel returning to their burrows at night, or leaving them before dawn, can become disoriented by artificial lights and crash land on roads. They are often unable to take off again. The birds can then be eaten by predators or struck by vehicles. In 2009, the Department of Conservation asked residents of Punakaiki to help reduce the occurrences of fledgling birds crash landing in the town by turning off outside lights and closing blinds at night, particularly during misty or stormy weather. In 2020, the NZ Transport Agency (Waka Kotahi), in what was reported as a nationwide-first, turned off streetlights in Punakaiki between November and January, the period when the fledgling birds leave their burrows and take their first flight.