Next time you’re by the sea, keep your eyes peeled for any fledgling Yelkouan Shearwater birds who find themselves stranded.

The young seabirds start leaving their nests at this time of year, but bright lights can often leave them disorientated and confused, with fledglings heading inland rather than to the sea.

In a statement issued on Friday, BirdLife Malta urged the public to look out for any young birds stranded on land due to light pollution.

People who come across a bird in need of help should contact BirdLife Malta immediately and place the disorientated aniumal inside a cardboard box in a dark area until it can be collected, checked and safely released by BirdLife Malta staff.

“Do not provide food or water to the bird,” the NGO said.

Malta is home to up to 10 per cent of the world’s population of Yelkouan Shearwaters, with an estimated 2,000 breeding pairs across the Maltese islands.

But bright lights in coastal areas such as Buġibba, Mellieħa, Qawra and Ċirkewwa threaten to significantly cut population numbers as they attract fledling birds from colonies on St Paul’s Island, Comino and cliffs in Mellieħa.