Four young shearwaters have been successfully released after they were found on land, disorientated by coastal light pollution, researchers from the Birdlife’s EU LIFE+ Malta Seabird Project said.

These seabirds wait for darkness to leave their nests, and are guided offshore by the brightest glare, being the horizon in natural circumstances.

During their first flying attempts, young birds can easily get distracted by lights from nearby urban areas, ending up stranded on land, vulnerable to injury by traffic or stray animals. Unless guided back to sea, they  may not be able to find their way to the shore.

Manager Nicholas Barbara said the prime solution to this problem was reducing coastal light pollution. He appealed to authorities and developers to take regard of this phenomenon.

Birdlife appealed to the public to report any stranded shearwaters.

Yelkouan Shearwaters are very dark on the tops of their body and wings with a contrasting white underside and a dark slender bill. The larger ones leave their nests in late September and October and they can be recognised by their brown upper side and a large yellow bill with a black tip.

Stranding reports can be made to Birdlife Malta on 2134 7644.

Birdlife are running a shearwater Boat Trip on August 2 enabling participants to experience the birds flying just above the sea surface, then collecting in large ‘rafts’ upon the water to wait for sunset.

More details from 2134 7646.