Light pollution disturbing Yelkouan Shearwaters

An EU Life Yelkouan Shearwater Project report published yesterday shows that light pollution has been driving shearwaters out of their nesting sites.

Helen Raine, of BirdLife Malta, and Heritage Malta's John J. Borg, who compiled the report assessed light pollution near the shearwater colonies, particularly at the project site at Rdum tal-Madonna and L-Aħrax tal-Mellieħa.

Malta has about 10 per cent of the world's population of Yelkouan shearwaters, a seabird that nests in cliffs.

According to the report, the greatest offenders are the globe lights installed along promenades and over-illumination. Lit up hotel façades were also contributing to the malaise.

The project partners will now be working with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, local councils, residents and business owners, advising them on how to reduce light pollution.

BirdLife said that light pollution is a problem for shearwaters because when the young leave the nest, the bright lights dazzle them and draw them inland, where they collide with buildings, instead of flying out to sea to fish.

Birds have been known to desert their nests even if one or two electric lights are installed nearby.

Ms Raine, the project manager, said there are as yet no regulations or official guidelines to control light pollution. The government needs to enact and enforce legislation in this regard, she insisted.

The Yelkouan Shearwater Project is an initiative of four government authorities - Heritage Malta, the Malta Martime Authority, the Malta Centre for Fisheries Sciences and the Armed Forces of Malta - and three conservation organisations including BirdLife Malta; SPEA BirdLife Portugal and RSPB BirdLife UK.

www.lifeshearwaterproject.org.mt