Help the puffins take flight—turn off your lights!

The Territorial Environmental Agency is calling on the island’s residents to help the puffins take flight. The Herminier’s shearwater nests exclusively on Coco Islet near Saint Barthélemy, explains the ATE. This protected seabird, which is rare around the island, lays its eggs and raises its chicks in early summer. Thus, the chicks take their first flight and learn to hunt at sea with their parents between June and July. However, for this stage of their learning to proceed without disruption, it is essential that they not be disturbed by artificial lights.

“These migratory birds navigate by the stars,” the ATE points out. “But as soon as night falls, our artificial lights disorient the chicks, causing them to land on the island of Saint-Barthélemy, sometimes in dangerous areas like the road. Once they’ve landed, they won’t move, even in the face of danger (cars, cats, dogs, or other threats), which makes them very vulnerable.”

To date, the ATE has already rescued six puffins on the island in just a few weeks. “Some were still alive and could be released, while others were not so lucky,” notes the agency.

Consequently, the ATE offers a few recommendations. At nightfall, turn off unnecessary lights (in gardens, around pools, and outdoors) to give puffins a chance to survive during the first months of their lives.

If you see a wild animal in distress, call the ATE’s emergency number, which is available even in the evenings and on weekends (06 90 31 70 73).