BirdLife Malta urges action on light pollution to save vulnerable seabirds

Photo: Aron TantiBirdLife Malta is calling on the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) to turn its 2020 light pollution guidelines into enforceable law to protect breeding seabirds and other species that rely on darkness. Reducing light pollutio

By: independent.com.mt

Oct 20 2024
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BirdLife Malta urges action on

Photo: Aron Tanti

BirdLife Malta is calling on the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) to turn its 2020 light pollution guidelines into enforceable law to protect breeding seabirds and other species that rely on darkness. Reducing light pollution not only safeguards wildlife but also benefits human health and saves energy costs.

Guidelines for reduction of light pollution

The threat of light pollution to Malta’s seabirds is a serious issue that requires urgent attention. Without action, the breeding populations of Yelkouan Shearwaters, Scopoli’s Shearwaters, and European Storm-petrels could continue to decline, threatening the survival of these species in Malta.

With construction prevailing across the islands, light pollution is often overlooked during the approval process of planning applications. To stop the increase of light pollution on our islands, BirdLife Malta urges ERA and the Planning Authority to ensure that permit conditions for new developments should include and enforce conditions on ecologically sensitive lighting schemes.

BirdLife Malta also calls on Transport Malta and ERA to tackle light pollution from bunkering ships near shearwater colonies, that are located along the coastal cliffs. Light pollution from land or sea shining on cliff faces reduces nest visits by adult shearwaters, potentially leaving shearwater chicks go hungry. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10336-023-02045-z

Therefore, explains Martin Austad, Seabird Research Coordinator at BirdLife Malta, mitigation measures are needed for ship bunkering areas, maintained regulation on boat parties in Natura 2000 sites and improved measures to eliminate light pollution from current and new development.

Photo: Francesca Visalli

Light pollution threatens seabirds breeding populations

The Maltese Islands are home to a globally significant population of seabirds, including the Yelkouan Shearwater, Scopoli's Shearwater, and the European Storm-petrel. Up to 10% of the world’s Yelkouan Shearwater population breeds here, making Malta a crucial location for the survival of this species, which is classified as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

However, the excessive and inappropriate use of artificial light is disrupting the natural rhythms of these birds, affecting their behaviour and, in some cases, putting entire colonies at risk.

Light pollution occurs when artificial lighting floods the environment, disrupting the natural cycle of light and dark. For seabirds like the Yelkouan Shearwater and European Storm-petrel, this can have devastating consequences, especially during their breeding season.

The most active period for adult Shearwaters and Storm-petrels around their breeding colonies is during the darkest hours of the night, explains Life PanPaffinus! Project Manager at BirdLife Malta, Manya Russo. Artificial lighting from urban areas, ships, and other sources, interfere with this natural behaviour. The disruption leads to adult birds reducing the amount of time they spend at their nests, which can result in chicks going without food. In extreme cases, light pollution can cause entire colonies to be abandoned as birds seek safer, darker areas to breed.

For young seabirds, particularly chicks of the Yelkouan and Scopoli’s shearwaters, the threat is even more severe. When these chicks are ready to fledge—typically in June, July, and again in October—they leave their nest for the open sea. During this critical first flight, some chicks are attracted to artificial lights. Once distracted, they circle the light sources until they are exhausted, or worse, collide with nearby obstacles.

Stranded on land, these seabirds face numerous dangers. They are vulnerable to predation by cats and dogs, can be hit by cars, or may die from hunger and thirst.

Photo: Francesca Visalli

Growing light pollution in Malta

The issue of light pollution in Malta has been growing steadily in recent years. A LIFE Arċipelagu Garnija study conducted between 2017 and 2020 found that light pollution from land-based sources, particularly towns and cities, has increased over this period. This growing problem highlights the urgent need for immediate action to protect Malta’s seabirds.

There are several key solutions to mitigate light pollution and help safeguard the breeding populations of these seabirds. BirdLife Malta, along with environmental researchers, has provided several recommendations for reducing light pollution:

Outdoor lights should be angled correctly, using full-cutoff lighting to minimise glare and prevent unnecessary light from spilling into the environment.

Replacing white and blue wavelength lights with warmer, yellow-coloured lights can reduce the impact on seabirds.

Lights should be designed to focus illumination only where it is needed, rather than flooding large areas.

Implementing more energy-efficient lighting systems can reduce overall light pollution and provide economic benefits.

Respect current and designate further Dark-Sky-Heritage areas.

More information here: https://birdlifemalta.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Guidelines-for-Ecologically-Responsible-Lighting.pdf

The public can play an important role in rescuing stranded birds. Francesca Visalli, project warden at BirdLife Malta, urges anyone who finds a seabird stranded on land to contact their rescue team immediately. Members of the public can reach BirdLife Malta at 2134 7645 during office hours, or 7925 5697 during evenings and weekends. Alternatively, the police can be contacted on 119 for assistance.

By reducing unnecessary outdoor lighting and encouraging local councils to take measures to cut down light pollution in their areas, people can actively help reduce the number of seabirds strandings. Additionally, using red lights when out in the countryside can lessen the impact of artificial lighting on wildlife.