It’s the fledging season for Scopoli’s Shearwaters…and they need the public’s help! BirdLife Malta is today calling on the public to rescue stranded seabird fledglings which become disorientated due to light pollution.

As in the past fledging seasons of these secretive birds, BirdLife said that it is calling on the public to report to them any sightings or findings of stranded Scopoli’s Shearwaters.

BirdLife explained that stranded birds are most likely to be encountered in the early morning or late evening in localities like – Xlendi and Mgarr in Gozo and Pembroke, Birzebbuga, Hal Far and Cirkewwa in Malta. However, they could may turn up in almost any location.

The NGO said that at this time of year, young Scopoli’s Shearwaters fledge and leave their remote cliff- side nesting locations for the first time, heading for the open sea.

BirdLife explained that the light pollution from bright coastal lights can leave these young seabirds disorientated increasing their chances of becoming stranded inland in roads, seafronts, ports, towns, and other urbanised areas.

Once they are stranded they are unable to fly back out to sea – where they spend the majority of their lives – putting their survival in danger, the NGO said.

BirdLife stressed that the days between the 14th and 24th of October are particularly important, as they are considered as the peak period for strandings, although the period can last until the beginning of November.

“Where possible, stranded birds should be collected and gently placed in a cardboard box. The birds should not be given any food or water, but kept in a quiet place until they are retrieved by BirdLife Malta staff to be safely released back at sea,” the NGO said.

BirdLife Malta can be reached on 2134 7644 (office hours) or 7925 5697 (emergency out of office).

BirdLife Malta’s LIFE Arcipelagu Garnija project is working to reduce the impacts of light pollution close to the colonies to ensure long-term protection of seabirds.

The team said that last year was a record year with 24 stranded Scopoli’s Shearwater reported by the public.

“It is only with the support of the public who report the stranding of young seabird chicks that BirdLife Malta is able to rescue and release them back into safe locations at night, allowing them to continue with their journey at sea,” they said.

BirdLife concluded by saying that “these reports also contribute to BirdLife Malta’s long-term dataset on stranded birds, which is valuable to show the correlation between number of stranded birds and increasing level of lights across the Maltese Islands.”

Photo – A rehabilitated Scopoli’s Shearwater fledgling before its release (Photo by LIFE Arcipelagu Garnija) and Video – Light pollution and its impacts on Malta’s breeding seabirds (Footage by LIFE Arcipelagu Garnija, editing by Jose Luque)

Permalink: Keep an eye open for stranded Scopoli’s Shearwater fledglings in Gozo