Shearwaters and light polllution

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

The Cabildo de Fuerteventura through the Ministry of Environment, Fight against Climate Change, Circular Economy and R & D & I, in its work of protection and conservation of wildlife, takes place during these months of September, October and November on the island of Fuerteventura the "Campaign of the Pardela (Calonectris diomedea borealis)".

The coast of Fuerteventura concentrates important nesting areas of shearwaters, and during the nights of the months of September to November, most chickens leave the moon-oriented nest. However, light pollution in urban areas dazzles these species by diverting them from their route inland and causing them to collide with street lamps, power lines and even outrages, and when they collide, they fall against the ground and even if they have not suffered injuries, they do not They are able to fly again by themselves.

Therefore, during this campaign, surveillance, collection, care and subsequent release of these birds are carried out, while at the same time trying to raise awareness about the importance of citizen collaboration and cooperation between Public Administrations and other public bodies , local Police, civil protection, civil guard, among others, thanks to which they have been able to recover and release a hundred shear so far this year.

Likewise, the Minister of the area, Marlene Figueroa, wanted to emphasize the importance of avoiding light pollution on our island, both by public and / or private organizations and establishments, as well as by the population in general.

"We must be increasingly aware of using intelligent lighting that prevents light pollution to preserve emblematic species such as these shearwaters, especially on an island that is a Biosphere Reserve and Starlight Reserve. Let's take care of the night to conserve our fauna," he added the counselor.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

From RTVAC:


The Ministry of Environment of the Cabildo de Fuerteventura organizes the release of half a hundred shearwaters.
Activity framed within the Environmental Awareness Campaign with the participation of four educational centers on the island.

The Ministry of Environment of the Cabildo de Fuerteventura, directed by Marlene Figueroa, together with the Ministry of Education, directed by María Jesús de la Cruz, began the workshops on Cinderella Pardela, which includes the release of these protected species. An activity framed within the Environmental Awareness Campaign by the Insular Ministry of the area.

Coinciding with the breeding season of Cinderella Pardela, about 200 students of CEIP Tostón and CEIP La Hubara, participated yesterday in the release of 16 shearwaters that had been collected the previous days by the Environment Services and which was hosted with great applause in the town of El Cotillo, where students also received information on the protection of these birds against possible incidents caused, above all, by the public light.

For the Minister Marlene Figueroa, “from the Ministry of Environment, through this campaign with workshops by the different schools, minimize the incidents at a time of special importance for the increase of the population of this protected species, in the that the youngest, through awareness-raising activities of this kind, should know their level of protection, bringing them closer to the necessary commitment to the environment and their own context. ”

For María Jesús de la Cruz, Insular Councilor for Education, "activities carried out with the purpose of relating the knowledge imparted in regulated training with the reality of the environment as field work outside the classroom, where schoolchildren get to know and study firsthand our majorera fauna ”.

Upcoming talks and release of shearwaters will be given in two other schools in the south of Fuerteventura this Friday, November 8.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Radio Sintonia:

In order to conserve and protect the island's biodiversity, the Fuerteventura council will carry out the 2020 Cinderella Shearwater ( Calonectris diomedea borealis ) Campaign , during the months of September, October and November. These months are considered the most critical for the species, because it is threatened by predators, illegal hunting or glare.
According to data from the Cabildo's Environment area, during the 2019 Cinderella Shearwater Campaign, a total of 261 birds were rescued, thanks to citizen and institutional collaboration, and 94.6% of them could finally be released in their natural habitat. . The municipality that presented the highest rate of reports was La Oliva, with 59.3%, followed by Puerto del Rosario with 19.6% and Pájara with 9.96%.
For this reason, the area councilor, Marlene Figueroa, recalls that the importance of collaboration and coordination between administrations and public bodies, associations, groups, tourist centers and the general public is essential for the protection and conservation of the species .
At the end of October, this seabird takes advantage of the darkness of the night and leaves the nests to go to the sea, guided by the light of the moon. However, due to light pollution, the shearwater is dazzled, diverting its natural path to head towards the towns, where they collide with obstacles such as streetlights, buildings or cars, falling to the ground. Although they have not suffered injuries, these animals are not capable of taking flight on their own, requiring help to do so.
In the case of finding a specimen, the citizen must inform immediately by calling 112 (Emergency Service), providing as much information as possible about the exact place and circumstances of the finding, as well as a contact telephone number for any clarification that required.
It is also recommended to pick up the shearwater very carefully, especially with the beak, and cover it with a towel or similar and put it in a ventilated box, remove the towel, close the box and keep it in a quiet place. It is also important not to supply any type of food, whether solid or liquid, and even if it is observed that the bird is in good condition, do not release it.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Radio Sintonia:

 Investigate three shearwater poachers in Fuerteventura

This species of seabird is included in the List of Wild Species under Special Protection Regime

September 27 three men as alleged perpetrators of a crime against flora and fauna, when they were surprised by the agents with several corpses of shearwaters in Fuerteventura . Specifically on the Costa Majorera.

 

The action took place around 7:30 p.m., when a Civil Guard patrol carried out surveillance tasks in Jandía (Pájara municipality) of the vehicles returning from the Cofete area, in order to prevent illegal shellfish harvesting.

The agents observed a suspicious vehicle parked in the vicinity of the beach or place of Jorós, so they approached the aforementioned, observing when they were reaching their height that a male ran out of it with a grocery bag in his possession. so one of the agents quickly pursued and intercepted him when he had just thrown the bag off a nearby cliff.

Photo of shearwaters in Fuerteventura

The agent in question observed how just below his feet, on the slope of the cliff and in the sea, there were several corpses of shearwaters , being able to recover two dead specimens after descending to the specific site, later recognizing the three males who had killed said specimens to extract the oil.

Immediately the three men were investigated as alleged perpetrators of a crime against flora and fauna, typified in article 334 of the Penal Code, remaining at the disposal of the corresponding court acting as guard in the town of Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura).

Article 334 of the Penal Code

Said article establishes prison sentences of six months to two years or a fine of eight to twenty-four months and, in any case, special disqualification for profession or trade for the exercise of the right to hunt or fish for a period of two to four years to whoever hunts. , fish, acquire, possess or destroy protected species of wildlife.

Citizen Collaboration
If you are interested in collaborating with the Civil Guard, you can use this form: https://www.guardiacivil.es/es/colaboracion/form_contacto/medio_ambiente.html    to communicate any type of information that you consider of interest on «environment and animal protection »  Related to the functions or powers assigned to them.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Radio Sintonia:

Around 140 shearwaters were rescued this 2020

Some of 140 shearwaters have been rescued and released so far by the Cabildo of Fuerteventura, across from the counseling of Environment, in the present campaign of protection of the Shearwater Cinderella ( Calonectris diomedea borealis ) in 2020. These specimens have been recovered thanks to the citizen and institutional cooperation, the majority of them in the towns of the northern part of the island.

On the day of today 5 Thursday of November, the area of Environment of the Cabildo has proceeded to the release of thirteen copies rescued as part of this campaign, which runs during the months of September, October and November, most critical months for the species because they were threatened by predators, the illegal hunting or glare.

At the end of October, this seabird advantage from the darkness of the night and out of the nest to go to the sea, guided by the light of the moon. However, because of the light pollution, the shearwater glares, diverting its natural path to head towards the towns where encounter obstacles such as street lights, buildings or cars, falling to the ground. Although they have not been injured, these animals are unable to take flight alone, pointing to support for it.

The Minister of the area, Marlene Figueroa, recalled that the cooperation and coordination between administrations and public bodies, associations, groups, tourist centers and the general public is essential to the conservation and protection of the species.

In the case of found a copy, the citizen / a should report calling 112 (Service of Emergency), providing the most information about the exact place and circumstances of the discovery, as well as a phone to contact for any clarification is needed . It is also recommended to pick up the shearwater very carefully, especially with the beak, cover it with a towel or similar and put it in a ventilated box, remove the towel, close the box and keep it in a quiet place. You should not be given any type of feed the animal, whether solid or liquid, and even if the bird is found to be in good condition, it should not be released.
The Minister of Environment has also stressed the importance of promoting smart lighting on the island to avoid the light pollution, to preserve emblematic species such as shearwaters, especially on an island that is Reserve of the Biosphere Reserve Starlight .

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

From Radio Sintonia:

Arrested in Fuerteventura for hunting shearwaters

The Civil Guard arrested two people in Fuerteventura for a crime against flora and fauna when hunting shearwaters.

 

Agents of the Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA) of Fuerteventura have arrested two men with the initials OGG and JFRM - residents of the municipalities of Puerto del Rosario and La Oliva - as alleged perpetrators of a crime against flora, fauna and domestic animals, for hunting protected species on the referred island.

Coastal surveillance

The Police action began in the early morning of October 29, when agents of the Fiscal and Border Patrol (PAFIF), who were guarding the coastline of the island of Fuerteventura, intercepted an all-terrain vehicle with two men inside and They carried sixteen (16) specimens of Cinderella shearwater, hidden in two cloth sacks inside a vehicle, proceeding to identify and seize the birds and tools used in their capture, in turn notifying the SEPRONA patrol.

Detention. Protected species

The SEPRONA agents sent the seized birds to the Biological Station of the Island Council of Fuerteventura, for their timely study and technical report, proceeding to arrest the aforementioned men as alleged perpetrators of a crime typified in article 334.1, paragraph a, of the Penal Code, which punishes such acts with prison sentences of 6 months to 2 years or a fine of 8 to 24 months, and in any case, special disqualification for

profession or trade, and special disqualification for the exercise of the right to hunt or fish for a period of 2 to 4 years.

The two detainees allegedly killed a total of 16 specimens of Cinderella Shearwater ( Calonectris diomedea boreales ), which are protected by various regional, national and European regulations:

• Royal Decree 139/2011, of February 4 , for the development of the List of Wild Species under the Special Protection Regime and the Spanish Catalog of Threatened Species.
  
  
• Law 4/2010, of June 4 , on the Canarian Catalog of Protected Species.- Under the terms of section 3 of article 55 of Law 42/2007, of December 13, on Natural Heritage and Biodiversity, creates the Canary Islands Catalog of Protected Species.
  
  
• That Directive 2009/147 / EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of November 30, 2009 , relating to the conservation of wild birds, being modified in 2019 by EU Regulation 2019/1010.
  
  
• List of Wild Species in Special Protection Regime , Red Book as Vulnerable, as well as Annex I of the Birds Directive.
  

The detainees and the effects intervened have been made available to the corresponding Investigating Court of Puerto del Rosario, also reporting said facts to the Environmental Prosecutor's Office of the island of Fuerteventura.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Radio Sintonia:

The Cabildo of Fuerteventura, through the Ministry of Environmental Sustainability, has launched the campaign to protect the Cinderella Shearwater of 2022, which takes place annually from September to the end of November.
 
The Cinderella shearwater is a large seabird, which can measure about 50 centimeters from head to tail. It lives in the open sea, and only touches land to reproduce. Its beak is yellow with a black tip, the colors of the feathers on the dorsal part are gray or brown, and on the ventral part white with the edge of the feathers of the wings is black.
Although the presence of shearwaters on our coasts can be detected from the month of March, the months of October and November are the most critical, since it is time for the chicks to leave the nest to make their first flight. In that first flight, which they make mainly at night, they are attracted by points of light, so they often fly towards land, instead of towards the sea, colliding with structures. Although they have apparently not suffered injuries, they are not able to lift the flight on their own, needing help to do so.
The Minister of Environmental Sustainability, Lola García, recalls that, for the protection and conservation of the species, coordination and support between administrations and public bodies, associations, groups, tourist centers and citizens in general is essential. Therefore, in the case of finding a Shearwater, the citizen must report the finding by calling 112.
There is a protocol of action that the citizen must follow. First of all, even if it is observed that the bird is in good condition, it should not be released. Secondly, attend to the animal, picking it up very carefully and paying attention so as not to damage its beak. To do this, the citizen can use a towel, sweatshirt or similar. Next, it is necessary to deposit the bird in a ventilated box, so that it can breathe and remove the used object. Subsequently, close the box and keep the animal in a quiet and shady place, until the wildlife collection service passes. You should avoid giving any type of solid or liquid food.
From here, we must give notice to 112 and, if possible, we will transfer the animal to one of the following collection points: civil guard, local Police, firefighters, civil protection, Red Cross, Cabildo de Fuerteventura.
It is important to provide the data of where it was found. This information is really useful to manage the collection of shearwaters, data processing and release in a safe area near the place of origin of the animal.
In case of finding a dead shearwater, it is also important to indicate the point where it is located, to detect possible areas of greater accident rate.
During the campaign of the Shearwater (Calonectris borealis) of the year 2021, thanks to citizen and institutional collaboration, 207 shearwaters were collected, releasing 199 of them into the natural environment. The municipality that presented the highest index of reports was La Oliva with a number of 109, followed by Puerto del Rosario with 42, Pájara 30, Tuineje 18, Antigua 7 and finally Betancuria with 1.
"It is essential for the conservation of the spice to get this information to all citizens, since it is really useful to manage the collection of shearwaters, the processing of data and their release in a safe area, as close to their place of collection," emphasizes Pedro Martínez, counselor of the Environmental Management area.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Noticias:

Shearwater chickens learn to fly "and you have to take care of them".

The Cabildo coordinates with the municipalities of the island and with SEPRONA the campaign to protect the Cory's Shearwater



NEWSROOMFUERTEVENTURA



The collaboration between administrations and public bodies, associations, groups, tourist centers and citizens in general, is essential for the protection and conservation of this wild species



The Cabildo of Fuerteventura, through the Ministry of Environment and Hunting, directed by Carlos Rodríguez, has held today a coordination meeting with the municipalities of the island on the campaign to protect the Cory's Shearwater of 2023, which takes place annually from September to the end of November.

 

The meeting was also attended by agents of the Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA), representatives of the Environment Service and Gesplan, the company in charge of collecting injured fauna.



The collaboration and coordination of protocol measures between administrations and public bodies, associations, groups, tourist centers and citizens in general, is essential for the protection and conservation of wild species, more at this time of year when all the shearwater chicks and other seabirds leave in search of the ocean, overflowing the number of services to face their collection, supervision and subsequent release.



According to what was established in the meeting, during the months of October and November, it is important to dispense with all unnecessary luminaires in outdoor areas, especially those located near the coastline. In case these are necessary, for security reasons, it is advisable to mitigate their intensity, as long as their functionality allows it.



The Minister of Environment, Carlos Rodríguez, said "Environmental education is crucial to sensitize citizens about this wild species. With conscience and following the recommendations of the Environmental Service, we can protect their habitat and ensure their survival."



How to act if we find a shearwater in danger?

 

The main problem faced by this species is that, during these months, the chicks leave the nest, oriented by the moon, the light pollution of urban areas dazzles them, diverting them from their route, causing collisions with lampposts, power lines and even run over.

 

It is therefore important to take into account the following recommendations: First, you should notify 112 to report the situation. It is important that, although it is observed that the bird is in good condition, it should not be released, since the animal must first go through a veterinary control.

 

In addition, it is essential to collect it very carefully, especially with its beak. To do this, it is recommended to use a towel, sweatshirt or similar, and then deposit it in a box with adequate ventilation. Subsequently, close the box and keep the animal in a quiet place and in the shade, until the wildlife collection service passes. In addition, it is important not to give him any type of solid or liquid food.

 

It is also important to collect the data of where the animal was found, either during the warning call, or at the time of receipt on the same box in which we have been able to put the pardela. This information is really useful to manage the collection of shearwaters, data processing and release in a safe area close to the place of origin.



In case of finding a dead shearwater, it is also important to collect the data of the place where it is located, to detect possible areas of greater accident rate.

link to article for cute pic

Tamara: out of interest I noticed a new restaurant has opened up on the opposite corner to La Luna in Corralejo - called Pardelas - hope they turn off all their lights after dark in the autumn!

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Noticias:

Dead shearwaters reappear on the highway.

The young specimens could be disoriented by the highway light when leaving the Rio Cabras ravine

The luminaire on the highway to the airport suggests that it could be the cause that turns the area into a death trap again for the young shearwaters that nest in the Rio Cabras ravine. The birds become disoriented by the amount of light when they leave the mouth of the ravine and end up losing their lives on the road.



Already in the 2021 campaign, the problem arose that ended with a punctual shutdown of them until the end of the campaign.



What is certain is that there are many photos circulating of young shearwaters, which at this time of year begin their first flights and are extremely sensitive to very bright lights. Institutions and groups are calling for responsibility to try to lose the least number of birds in this campaign.