The campaign will run throughout October and November, calling on the public, authorities and hotel establishments to reduce light pollution
The Cabildo de Fuerteventura, through its Department of the Environment, has launched its annual conservation and rescue campaign for the Atlantic Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris borealis), which will run during October and November, coinciding with the period when juvenile birds leave their nests to make their first night-time flights out to the ocean.
The Cory’s shearwater is a protected seabird that spends most of its life cycle out at sea, only coming close to land during the breeding season. During the juveniles’ first flights, light pollution can disorientate the birds and divert them from their path to the sea, increasing the risk of collisions with infrastructure and exposure to predators.
The Councillor for the Environment, Carlos Rodríguez, stressed that “public cooperation is essential if many of these birds are to get through such a particularly delicate stage of their life cycle”.
The Department of the Environment is also calling on public authorities and hotel establishments to cut back as much as possible on non-essential outdoor lighting during these months, as such a simple measure can make a significant contribution to the survival of these birds.
146 birds collected during the 2025 campaign
During the 2025 campaign, 146 Cory’s shearwaters were collected in Fuerteventura, of which 89.04% were successfully rehabilitated and later released.
La Oliva was the municipality with the highest number of reports, a trend that continues this year. In 2026, 61.6% of the birds collected came from this municipality, compared with 43.41% recorded in 2025. Puerto del Rosario was the second municipality with the most reports, accounting for 18.5%.
The Department of the Environment is asking for the cooperation of public authorities and the general public, particularly over the coming weeks, to help with the collection and recovery of any disorientated birds that may be found.
What to do if you find a shearwater
If a shearwater is found, it should not be released even if it appears to be in good condition, as the bird must first undergo a veterinary check-up. It is recommended that you pick it up carefully, paying particular attention to its beak, using a towel, jumper or similar item of clothing to make handling easier.
Once collected, the bird should be placed in a box with holes or good ventilation and kept closed in a quiet, cool, shaded spot until the wildlife collection service arrives. No food or liquid of any kind should be given to the animal.
The find should be reported immediately by calling 112. There are also various collection points available: the La Oliva Biological Station, the Civil Guard, Local Police, Fire Brigade, Civil Protection, the Red Cross and the Cabildo de Fuerteventura.
It is important to note the exact location where the bird was found on the box itself, as this information is useful both for its subsequent release and for monitoring the campaign. If a dead shearwater is found, its location should also be reported to help with its removal and to identify potential accident hotspots.
Reducing night-time lighting
The campaign places particular emphasis on the need to reduce light pollution during October and November. It is recommended that outdoor lights not essential for safety be switched off or, where this is not possible, dimmed — a measure that is especially important in areas close to the coast and in places where juvenile birds’ flights tend to concentrate.
Helping to collect and care for disorientated shearwaters improves their chances of recovery and subsequent release, and contributes to the conservation of a protected species.
