Adeje is stepping up efforts to protect Tenerife’s young seabirds, asking hotels, businesses and residents to switch off unnecessary lights during the coming weeks to help save Cory’s shearwaters.
The campaign, known as El Primer Viaje or The First Flight, began on 20 October and focuses on young birds making their first journey from their nests out to sea. Artificial lighting along the coast can confuse them as they navigate at night using the moon and stars, causing them to crash-land in streets, gardens, swimming pools and terraces.
Between October and November, thousands of young birds face this problem across the Canary Islands. Once grounded, many cannot take off again without help.
Adeje opens a dedicated rescue point
From 28 October until 30 November, the Casa de la Juventud in El Galeón will serve as a collection point for grounded seabirds. It will be the only facility of its kind along the coastal stretch between Arona and Santiago del Teide, meaning it will also receive birds found in neighbouring municipalities.
The centre’s opening hours are:
- Monday to Friday: 8am to 2pm, then 4pm through to 8am the following morning.
- Weekends and public holidays: Open 24 hours.
Adeje recorded 953 seabird rescues in 2025, accounting for 36% of Tenerife’s total. The municipality wants to reduce that figure by preventing birds from becoming disorientated in the first place.
Cory’s shearwaters breed in areas including Barranco del Infierno and the coastal cliffs around Adeje. Their young leave their nests at night, usually between mid-October and mid-November, and head towards the open sea.
The Tenerife Cabildo coordinates the island-wide campaign through the La Tahonilla Wildlife Recovery Centre. Across Tenerife, an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 shearwaters are affected each year, but rescue campaigns help more than 94% of recovered birds return to the wild.
A few lights switched off can make a difference
Adeje is asking hotels, shops and businesses to reduce unnecessary lighting, particularly during the highest-risk period from 1 to 15 November.
Simple measures include:
- Switching off decorative lighting on buildings, gardens, swimming pools and palm trees from 8pm, where possible.
- Pointing outdoor lights towards the ground rather than the sea or sky.
- Turning off shop signs and window displays when businesses close.
- Asking hotel guests to close curtains and switch off unused balcony and terrace lights.
Seventeen hotels in Adeje are already taking part. The council is encouraging more establishments to join, with the added benefit of lower energy consumption.
The municipality is also leading by example, reducing lighting in municipal buildings, warehouses and sports facilities. Particular attention is being paid to areas near Barranco del Infierno and the coast, including Adeje football ground.
School visits and night patrols
The campaign goes beyond switching off lights. Educational sessions are planned at CEIP Fañabé, IES Adeje and IES Galeón to help young people understand the problem and how they can help.
Two night patrols will also look for grounded birds, followed by an activity to release young shearwaters back into the wild.
What to do if you find a grounded bird
If you come across a shearwater that appears disorientated or unable to fly, contact 112 or the Tenerife Cabildo’s Wildlife Recovery Centre on 900 282 228. Give the exact location so the rescue team can find the bird.
If you need to handle it temporarily, use gloves and gently cover it with a towel or piece of clothing. Place it in a ventilated cardboard box in a cool, quiet place.
Do not tie its wings, or give it food or water. The bird can then be taken to the Casa de la Juventud in El Galeón during its opening hours.
You can find more information at www.elprimerviaje.org.
A small change to the lighting around our homes and businesses might not seem like much, but for a young shearwater trying to make its first journey out to sea, it could make all the difference.