SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE 13 December (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Cabildo of Tenerife conducted 3,445 rescues during the 2024 Cory’s Shearwater campaign, with 3,442 being successfully released, marking a record since the inception of the programme in 1999.
The Minister for Natural Environment, Sustainability, Security and Emergencies, Blanca Pérez, emphasises in a statement that we should “celebrate” as virtually all of the rescued individuals have been rehabilitated.
“I believe more and more citizens are getting involved and aware of the importance of nature conservation, which is a positive development that motivates us to keep pushing for such initiatives,” she comments.
Blanca Pérez commends the efforts of all organisations that have contributed to the campaign, highlighting the crucial roles played by citizens, local councils, and volunteers.
“In recent years, we have also managed to engage tourist establishments, which is vital as many of the incidents occur in areas with light pollution, causing juvenile shearwater birds to become disoriented and land,” she points out.
This initiative, part of the Natural Environment department, is coordinated by the Wildlife Recovery Centre ‘La Tahonilla’ and works alongside the Office of Environmental Participation and Volunteering, aiming to rescue injured juvenile shearwaters that fall confused during their inaugural night flights, dazzled by coastal lighting.
COLLABORATING ORGANISATIONS
The Cory’s Shearwater rescue campaign benefits from the collaboration of local councils, the Local Police, Seprona of the Civil Guard, Civil Protection Groups, Cecopal of Santa Cruz, and the Emergency and Security Coordinating Centre (Cecoes).
Additionally, various volunteer organisations are involved, including ADAE, AEA, Canarias QRV Emergencies, SEO/BirdLife, the Red Cross, the INOCEANA Association, Save The Planet Association, Canarias Recycle Foundation, Oceans Transition Association, Terramare Association, Ecoimplicados Association, Senda el Bentor Association, Calima Association, the Tourism Excellence Association, Rumbo Ziday, Amarec Association, and ECAN. Also contributing are personnel from the Insular Operational Coordination Centre (Cecopin), Natural Spaces Guards, and the Environmental Participation and Volunteering Office of the Cabildo.
The Atlantic population of Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris diomedea borealis or Calonectris borealis) is listed as a species under Special Protection Regime and classified as Vulnerable in the Red Book. It is also included in Annex I of the Birds Directive.
STAYS IN THE ISLANDS FOR MOST OF THE YEAR
This protected species ranks among the largest seabirds in Spain and is the largest shearwater in Europe. It is migratory but breeds and resides along the coasts of the archipelago for the majority of the year (from February to November).
The rescue campaigns for Cory’s shearwater in Tenerife not only save thousands of individuals annually but also provide critical information regarding their migratory pathways and fidelity to their breeding colonies.
For instance, a specimen rescued in Candelaria in 2023 was later tracked to Cayo Coco (Cuba) in November 2024, illustrating the bird’s remarkable capacity for movement and adaptation to survive in its oceanic habitat.
Another noteworthy incident occurred in January 2010 when a bird saved in Los Cristianos during the 2006 campaign was found in Mossel Bay (South Africa), confirming the transoceanic reach of this species.
