BirdLife has reported 17 cases of young Scopoli’s shearwaters stranded inland due to the effects of light pollution in the past two weeks.

The organisation is appealing to the authorities to tackle coastal light pollution, and to the public to report shearwater strandings.

Scopoli's stranded in Xlendi and released at Ta' Cenc. Photo: Joe Sultana, Birdlife

The Scopoli’s shearwater is one of four nesting seabirds in the Maltese Islands.

Spending their lives at sea and approaching land only at night, these birds nest in Malta’s remote cliffs away from developed areas.

Following their breeding season in summer, young Scopoli’s shearwaters start venturing out from their cliff nests from late September into October, relying on the safety of darkness to do so.

Very much like marine turtles, young Scopoli’s rely on the natural brightest source of light at night, the horizon, to be guided offshore. Insensitive lighting from coastal development misleads them inland, often ending with them grounded and unable to make it back to the sea.

Scopoli’s shearwaters are recognised by their grey-brown back, contrasting with a white under side and a large yellow bill. Strandings can be reported to BirdLife Malta on 2134 7644.