The LIFE PanPuffinus! project is a Mediterranean-wide collaboration led by BirdLife Malta.

The NGO explained that Yelkouan Shearwaters are fledging at this time, and light pollution may lead them to get disorientated and stranded on land. These birds can be identified by their dark back, white belly and black beak.

As the season approaches, fledgling Scopoli Shearwater chicks are once again finding themselves stranded due to light pollution.

From mid October to early November, residents of coastal towns and villages can play a crucial role in locating and rescuing these young seabirds.

During the 2023 breeding season, thanks to the help of all of the public, the NGO managed to locate over 40 Scopoli’s Shearwaters!

The chicks of these breeding seabirds are leaving their nests to head out for the open sea, under the cover of darkness.

Sadly however, this first journey for these birds can be dangerous. Light pollution from our towns and villages causes many young birds on their first flight to sea to become grounded on land.

Stranded birds are most likely to be encountered in the early morning or late evening in localities around the coastline In Gozo, that could be Xlendi and Mgarr. However, they could may turn up in almost any location.

Please follow these guidelines, if a stranded bird is spotted.

Call BirdLife Malta on 2134 7645/6 (office hours)/7925 5697 (evenings and weekends) or the police on 119 in the first instance;

Record the location you found the bird as accurately as possible;

Approach the bird from behind. Gently pick up the bird using a clean cloth or towel, controlling the head and holding the wings against the body;

Place the bird in a well-ventilated cardboard box. Keep the box in a cool dark place;

If possible, provide fresh water for the bird in a deep container. When the box is stationary, leave the container with water with the bird so that it can drink as needed. Do not attempt to rehydrate the bird yourself;

Do not attempt to feed the bird.

All rescued birds will be examined by a government veterinarian and entered into a rehabilitation programme. Once they have fully recovered, they will be released in safe locations. Each bird will also be ringed before release to aid in gathering further data on the species.

The NGO said that it will bring it back to full health, giving it another chance to live the life it deserve.

Photo: Marc Schruoffeneger and video Martin Austad

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