The chicks are dazzled by the lights on the coast and can fall into urban areas.

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This week, the Species Protection Service, in collaboration with the Balearic Islands Biodiversity Research Initiative (IRBI), has begun to publicise the campaign for collaboration in the collection of Balearic shearwater chicks. The campaign begins this month, coinciding with the time when the young specimens of this species begin to fly and focuses on the municipalities closest to the islets where they nest.

The ‘virot petit’ (Puffinus mauretanicus) is a seabird that breeds on islets and sea cliffs isolated from populated areas. During the month of July, it is common for some chicks to become disorientated by artificial lights on the coast and fall into urban areas. This exposes them to collisions, and roadkill and makes them more vulnerable to predators such as cats. For this reason, the Service has begun to distribute posters with information about this problem and instructions on how to act in the event of finding a specimen.

On these occasions, call 112 and keep the bird in a ventilated cardboard box without feeding it, taking care with its beak when picking it up. If a dead animal is found, it is also important to report the finding in order to improve information on affected birds and identify critical areas. During the last ten years, 23 ‘virot petit’ chicks have been admitted to the COFIB due to this problem.

The Balearic shearwater is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN and is considered the most endangered seabird in Europe. This bird lives offshore and comes ashore to breed, only on the islets, caves off the coast and holes between the rocks of the Balearic archipelago.

The campaign also has the collaboration of the Agreement for the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP), the Consell Insular de Menorca and the Environmental Agents Service.