The Council, through the Natural Management and Safety area, The shearwater chick protection campaign begins today. Until next November 15 The juveniles of this species typical of the Island are expected to take flight on their way to the ocean. Every year between 2,000 and 2,500 specimens fall disoriented by light pollution and other factors. Then they are easy prey for felines, both domestic and feral cats, the so-called maroons.
The technical coordination of the La Tahonilla Wildlife Recovery Center has been key to launching the protection and aid campaign for Calonectris borealis, which in the months of October and November undertakes its first flight to the sea, where it remains for some four years. The message emphasizes citizen collaboration when it comes to identifying and reporting the fall of chickens, as well as the decrease in lights in coastal areas.
José Alberto Delgado is a Cabildo biologist and works in La Tahonilla. Remember that “twenty years ago we started with these campaigns and there has been a positive evolution in awareness, but there is still much to do and work.” Rate: “Now is a key period due to the lunar phases.” And he emphasizes: “The lights of a football field or a hotel facility do a lot of damage to the babies.” He points out that “these have collaborated and last year they turned them off at night.”
“Blind as a shearwater”
This canary saying is often repeated on party nights. José Luis, after laughing, admits that he has heard it many times but does not know where it comes from. Because “the shearwater, like all birds, sees very well.” He thinks it has to do with the stumbling blocks he makes when he encounters light barriers that slow down his flight. Especially the younger ones cannot continue and fall to the ground. Then, Delgado assures, “especially the chickens, they cannot take flight again.”
The process determines that “if the birds need health care they go to La Tahonilla or else they have to be released the next day.” Delgado points out that they usually notify us through a call and we go. It is common especially in the south of the island and in northern municipalities such as Puerto de la Cruz. The task of volunteers and Cabildo staff “always attentive” stands out. And he insists that “99% of specimens soar”.
The biologist reveals: “The main enemy is the cat, domestic or feral, like the great predator of shearwater chickens.” It reveals that “fortunately there are fewer and fewer feral cats – the feral ones – which do a lot of damage in natural areas. Hence it is necessary to remove them from the natural environment. Therefore, it sentence: “You have to act quickly.” And he emphasizes: “Shearwaters soar over cliffs or steep places.” Hence the frequent images of releases.
The gray shearwater is common on all the islands, it is in good health, its populations are large and its adaptation improves. However, it suffers from this serious problem related to its habitat and the systemic urbanization of the coastline.
When they take their first flight, always in hours of darkness and guided by the stars, they confuse the lighting of streets, buildings or companies and collide by accident. Then they fall to the ground from where they cannot take flight again.
“The collection campaigns for Cinderella shearwater chickens recover between 2,000 and 2,500 specimens each year, most of them helped to fly back”, indicates the Minister Isabel García, who adds that “the organization of this campaign is carried out by the Centro de La Tahonilla and is carried out in coordination with the municipal administrations, local police, the Island Volunteer Office, and other associations. Last week, the counselor held a coordination meeting with La Tahonilla staff, in charge of coordinating the campaign, which was also attended by municipal representatives, Civil Protection, and members of conservation associations, as well as biologists and ornithologists.
Efforts will focus in the next few days on coordinating rescues, locating the specimens, collecting them, evaluating their health and releasing them to reach their final destination. At the same time, it insists on the measures that citizens can adopt to reduce accidents and thus allow less intervention by rescuers. For example, by reducing the intensity or turning off powerful lights in the exteriors of homes, buildings and businesses. In addition to calling 900 282 228, or the center’s own telephone number, 922 44 57 77 to alert the chickens that are on the ground.
In this sense, it is recommended to take due precautions before trying to catch a fallen specimen, given its powerful beak and the damage it can cause. Hence, the need to use gloves or the use of a towel. In addition to placing it in a ventilated box and a cool place, take it to the local police or call the indicated telephones.
Aarón Gómez joins
The Tenerife comedian Aarón Gómez joins the campaign to protect the cinderella shearwater that the Cabildo has launched to protect the juveniles that every year, during October and November, take flight towards the ocean. The comedian has taken part in the filming of a video that is already circulating on social networks with the participation of Seo Birdlife. “Aarón’s collaboration will help spread a message of awareness of the protection of its own species such as the Cinderella shearwater”, indicates the area councilor Isabel García. He points out that “through his characteristic humor, we will try to reach the population so that they know the habits of the shearwater and how it faces its first flight as well as the dangers it faces.” Gomez. for his part, he underlines as a message: «I have participated with all the affection towards a very characteristic species of the nights of the coast of our Islands». He stresses that “it is important to know how to identify the biodiversity that surrounds us and to work to protect it.” |
We recently returned from a trip to Tenerife and was staying in the Los Cristianos area. One evening I found a bird that appeared to be injured on the promenade near Playa Las Vistas. A family I spoke to decided to put the bird onto the beach, so it would be out of the way of people. Later that evening I saw it was still there and started to search for who to contact and I came across an article about the Shearwater birds and realised what was happening. Although this article mentions there is a monthly campaign, as a tourist I did not see any information and I think it would be very helpful in the tourist areas to put up some signs and make people aware. I eventually called 112 and also the local police that I called were not interested. I was told to put the bird into a box and the issue would be reported and someone would collect the bird. I hope it had a happy ending because I went to the location the following morning and the box and the bird had gone. The following day, another bird was found unable to fly also in the same area and it was trying to escape into a restaurant and the tourists were shooing it away with their feet. If people were more educated about this annual campaign, I think it would be better. Please can we have some signs put up in the tourist areas?