The Cabildo of Lanzarote, through the Environment Area, has requested citizen, business and institutional collaboration to reduce light pollution in coastal urban centers such as Caleta de la Villa (Famara), Caleta de Caballo, Caleta de Sebo (La Graciosa), the Island Homes Urbanization, El Golfo, Arrieta, Punta Mujeres and Playa Blanca during the shearwater fledging season.
In a statement, the first institution explains that it is in the months of October and November when the Cory's shearwater fledging season begins, which is the moment when the chicks take flight coinciding with the period of independence of the chicks.
The first island corporation requests that during this period the source of artificial light be reduced in the twilight hours, turning off or dimming the lights "to avoid the disorientation of seabirds, as they are dazzled by the lights of the coast on their way from land to the sea". In addition, it is explained that "artificial night light favors collisions of some specimens and exhausts many others by diverting them from their usual routes back to land".
The Cabildo also states that "shearwater specimens have been collected crushed by vehicles." "These birds hide under cars seeking refuge," he adds. For this reason, it asks the population of coastal areas such as Caleta de la Villa (Famara) "to take a few minutes before starting their vehicle to check that there are no shearwaters hidden under the car."
Wildlife Collection Service
Likewise, the institution reminds that anyone who finds a shearwater can contact the injured wildlife collection service by calling 696 733 177 or alerting 112, indicating that if possible it should be covered "with a towel, blanket or jacket to calm it down or put it in a cardboard box with holes and wait for qualified personnel to arrive." In this regard, it is indicated that the Injured Wildlife Collection service has collected around 10-12 shearwaters a day so far this campaign.
The species referred to is included in Royal Decree 139/2011, of February 4, for the development of the List of Wild Species under Special Protection Regime and the Spanish Catalog of Threatened Species, in the category of Special Protection Regime, and in Annex I of Directive 2009/147/EC, of November 30, 2009, relating to the conservation of wild birds.