Nine rescued seabirds released at Puerto Lajas, including an unusual storm petrel
Eight shearwaters and a Leach’s storm petrel have been released in Fuerteventura as the island’s seasonal seabird rescue campaign continues.
Eight Cory’s shearwaters and a Leach’s storm petrel were released back into the wild near the windmill at Puerto Lajas on 5 November, during an environmental education event organised by Fuerteventura’s Cabildo.
More than 30 people took part, including members of the Grupo Ornitológico Alcaidón de Canarias and Puerto del Rosario local police officers involved in collecting stranded shearwaters. Before the release, participants attended a talk about the birds’ habitat, diet and life cycle, and learned why some young shearwaters become disorientated on their first flights to the ocean.
The release formed part of De vuelta a casa, a project within the Cabildo’s Conocer para Proteger environmental education programme. It also coincided with the annual shearwater protection campaign, which began in October and is expected to continue until mid or late November. Around 150 birds had been rescued in Fuerteventura since the campaign began.
An occasional visitor
Among the birds released was a Leach’s storm petrel (Hydrobates leucorhous), which had been found the previous day. The small seabird breeds on North Atlantic islets and is only occasionally seen in Canarian waters during its autumn and winter movements towards southern Africa.
What to do if you find a shearwater
Young shearwaters leave their nests between October and November, making their first flights to the ocean at night. Artificial lights from roads, towns, hotels and coastal areas can confuse them, causing them to collide with structures or come down on land. Once grounded, their long wings and the position of their legs make it difficult for them to take off from a flat surface.
The Cabildo advises anyone who finds a shearwater to call 112 immediately. Do not release the bird yourself, even if it appears well: it should first be checked by a vet.
To collect the bird, use a towel, sweatshirt or similar garment, handle it carefully and watch out for its beak. Put it in a closed cardboard box with ventilation holes, and keep the box somewhere quiet, cool and shaded. Do not give the bird food or water. Note the exact location where it was found on the box, then wait for the collection service and follow its instructions.
The Cabildo also asks people to call 112 if they find a dead shearwater, so it can be removed and areas where birds are at risk can be identified. Reducing unnecessary outdoor lighting, particularly near the coast, may also help prevent young birds becoming disorientated.