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Shearwaters Yelkouan the Life Arcipelagu Garnija Project

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Shearwaters Yelkouan the Life Arcipelagu Garnija Project WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP? THE LIFE ARCIPELAGU KEEPING YELKOUAN Avoid using bright lights and loud GARNIJA PROJECT SHEARWATERS music close to nesting sites SAFE AT SEA For the location of the nesting sites, The LIFE Arċipelagu Garnija project aims to see the map on this leaflet secure the Maltese Islands for the Yelkouan Shearwater. Through monitoring, conservation and awareness-raising actions the project is Dispose of litter and plastic responsibly working to reduce the threats faced by this to prevent marine pollution seabird species both on land and at sea. Take care when fishing close to seabird colonies, especially in the evening FOUND A SEABIRD CAUGHT The project is being carried out by BirdLife Malta over a five-year period (2015-2020) and is IN FISHING GEAR? part-funded by the EU (60%). If you accidentally catch a Yelkouan Shearwater while fishing, carefully Keep in touch: remove the hook and safely release www.birdlifemalta.org/arcipelagugarnija +356 2134 7646 | [email protected] CAUTION! facebook/arcipelagugarnija If the hook has been swallowed, do not Werde van Veerle @MaltaSeabirds pull it out. Instead call BirdLife Malta Design LIFE14 NAT/MT/991 immediately for assistance. Telephone number: +356 2134 7646 If you find a Yelkouan Shearwater Project partners: entangled in nets but otherwise • Tanti Aron & Paris Victor uninjured, gently free the bird and Photos release safely at sea Further information on seabird bycatch can be found The project is co-funded by: here: www.birdlife.org/bycatch Paulo Lago & Jessica Irwin • Irwin Jessica & Lago Paulo Text Gozo THREATS AT SEA Comino THE YELKOUAN The Yelkouan Shearwater faces an uncertain future. In Ta’ Ċenċ SHEARWATER recent decades the species has suffered a drastic decline Sta. Marija Caves 1.1 nm and is now recorded as ‘vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List, Maltese name: Garnija placing it at risk of extinction unless the threats it faces Scientific name: Puffinus yelkouan are reduced. Yelkouan Shearwaters are listed in Annex 1 Cominotto Rdum Tal-Madonna Body length: 30-35cm of the EU Birds Directive, giving them special protection Wingspan: 70-84cm St. Paul’s Islands in EU countries. However, more can still be done to Legal status in Malta: Protected secure their long-term survival. This map details key breeding sites for Why are they continuing to Yelkouan Shearwater Majjistral Park Yelkouans have blackish upperparts and white decline in numbers? Nesting colony and underparts. They have a dark sensitive marine areas Malta beak with hooked tip and Noise and light pollution No noise/lights area external, tube-like nostrils. Yelkouan Shearwaters return to their colonies in the within 1.1 nm. Feb-July They are often seen close to dark to avoid predation. They are very sensitive to (Notice to Mariners No2/2010) the sea surface, flying with light and will avoid landing if the cliffs are lit up. Light fast wingbeats. and noise pollution causes disturbance and could lead to abandonment of entire colonies and reduce A species of seabird, Yelkouan breeding success. OTHER SEABIRDS Shearwaters make up an essential part of maintaining Scopoli’s Shearwater a healthy and balanced ecosystem, supporting Disturbance from boats Maltese name: Ċiefa other animal and plant life. Only occurring in the When boats stay close to breeding colonies - especially Scientific name: Calonectris diomedea Mediterranean region and with up to 10% of the global sea caves - with loud music and lights it can cause a Body length: 45-56cm population breeding in the Maltese Islands, we have a lot of disturbance. When adult Yelkouan Shearwaters Wingspan: 112-122cm responsibility for conserving this important species. are incubating or have chicks this can cause them Legal status in Malta: Protected to become stressed, possibly making their breeding Spending most of the day feeding at sea, these seabirds attempt unsuccessful and impacting population Mediterranean Storm-petrel only come ashore to their nests at night situated in sea numbers. Maltese name: Kanġu ta’ Filfla caves and steep coastal cliffs. In March, females lay a Scientific name: Hydrobates single egg which both parents incubate. When the egg Seabird bycatch pelagicus melitensis hatches the parents forage for small fish, crustaceans Every year, seabirds such as the Yelkouan Shearwaters Body length: 15-16cm and squid to feed their chick, sometimes travelling are injured or killed in fisheries after they are attracted Wingspan: 36-39cm hundreds of kilometres in search of food and plunging to baited hooks used in longline fishing or become Legal status in Malta: Protected up to 30m deep to catch their prey. entangled in gillnets. Yellow-legged Gull Marine Pollution Maltese name: Gawwija Prima Like other marine creatures, ingested plastic can Scientific name: Larus michahellis cause digestion and feeding problems for shearwater Body length: 52-58cm species while oil causes them to lose the waterproofing Wingspan: 120-155cm properties of their feathers – a necessity for seabirds. Legal status in Malta: Protected .
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