In October 2016, BirdLife Malta rescued 21 stranded Scopoli's Shearwaters

BirdLife Malta’s call to the public in early October to report any young stranded Scopoli’s Shearwaters resulted in a record number of reports, according to the eNGO.

A total of 21 stranded Scopoli’s Shearwater fledglings, known in Maltese as Ċiefa, were rescued by BirdLife Malta last month.

October marks the fledging season for Scopoli’s Shearwaters, when they begin to fledge from their nests for the first time from within the cliffs, BirdLife Malta explained. The young birds reportedly use the light of the horizon to guide them away from the coast. “However, the increasing threat of on-land light pollution can disorientate the birds causing them to become stranded inland, ending up in roads, seafronts, towns and other urbanised areas, and unable to fly back out to sea whilst putting their survival in danger,” BirdLife Malta said.

The largest number of stranded Scopoli’s Shearwaters this year were recovered were Ħal Far, Ċirkewwa and Birżebbuġa in Malta together with Xlendi and Xewkija in Gozo.

“All of these [areas] have notable sources of light pollution such as industrial areas, ports or seafronts,” BirdLife Malta said. “The exception was three birds in Xewkija which ended up stranded in the football pitch due to the strong lights.”

BirdLife Malta thanked those who reported stranded birds, while urging the public to continue reporting stranded seabirds they may encounter to BirdLife Malta.

“The next crucial period when the public’s help will be needed is during the fledging period in Yelkouan Shearwater, or Garnija in Maltese, between June and July 2017.

In the event of finding a stranded chick, BirdLife Malta advised the public to place it gently into a cardboard box and keep it in a quiet place, and contact the organisation immediately on 2134 7644 during office hours, or in case of emergencies, on 7925 5697.