Two Yelkouan shearwater fledglings were in the past days rescued by Birdlife after they were found stranded in Għadira and Buġibba respectively.

Between June and mid-July, young Yelkouan shearwater chicks begin to leave their nests from within remote cliff-side locations.

Fledging at night and using the light of the horizon to guide them away from the coast, it is likely these young seabirds became disorientated due to the light pollution of urban areas and ended up stranded inland on their first flight.

Malta, Birdlife said, is home to up to 10% of the global Yelkouan shearwaters population equating to around 2,000 breeding pairs in various sites across the islands. But the species population is in decline, with one of the main threats being light pollution.

Buġibba, Qawra, Mellieħa, Salina, and Ċirkewwa are the main sources of light pollution for the colonies of St Paul’s Island, Comino and the Rdum tal-Madonna.

Each year, many of these seabirds become stranded inland unable to fly back to sea, leaving them vulnerable to predation and passing vehicles.

BirdLife Malta’s Life Arċipelagu Garnija project is working to reduce the impact of light pollution close to the colonies to ensure this seabird’s long-term protection.

Anyone spotting a stranded Yelkouan shearwater should contact BirdLife and place the bird in a cardboard box in a dark area until it can be collected.