For shearwaters in Lanzarote, October and November are the riskiest weeks of the year: young birds make their first night flights out to sea, and many are dazzled by artificial light and fall to the ground. The Cabildo de Lanzarote is coordinating its 2026 fledging campaign, the Campaña de Aleteo, with the town councils, local police, Civil Protection, the island’s emergency services consortium and the Lanzarote Tourism Federation.

Why shearwaters in Lanzarote end up on the ground

Between September and November, young seabirds of several species leave their nesting areas. Lights disorient Cory’s shearwaters and Bulwer’s petrels above all: they lose their bearings and end up in streets, patios or parking lots, where they risk being hit by cars, caught by predators or injured. In 2025 the island’s injured-wildlife service took in 184 Cory’s shearwaters, more than any other species.

What to do if you find a shearwater

The campaign’s motto is “find, protect and report”:

• Keep people and pets away.
• Gently cover the bird with a cloth and place it in a closed cardboard box with air holes.
• Leave the box somewhere dark, quiet and sheltered, and note where and when you found the bird.
• Call 112 or the island’s environmental officers (Agentes de Medio Ambiente) at 928 598 548, and follow their instructions.

Do not give it food or water, do not use a camera flash, do not throw it into the air and do not try to release it yourself.

How to help prevent it

The Cabildo asks homes, hotels and other tourist businesses, companies and public bodies to switch off or dim outdoor lighting they don’t need and to point fixtures toward the ground. During these weeks it also pays to check patios, gardens, terraces, parking lots and under your car. If you are staying on the island, the same applies: switch off the terrace lights when you are not using them.

→ More tips for a low-impact visit in our guide to sustainable tourism in Lanzarote.

Published: Oct 16, 2026. Official sources: Cabildo de Lanzarote.