The rescue of Cory’s Shearwaters has vertiginously increased in the all Archipelago over last week. The Cory’s Shearwater counter of the Portal of the Government was updated last Wednesday (October 21) to a modest number of 17 recued birds, but on the next day it registered hundreds of birds that were collected in a single night patrol. More than 1300 Cory’s Shearwaters have been collected and released so far, almost all in a single week.

Given the rapid increase of birds abandoning their nests, the various brigades promoted by the structures of the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and the Sea and by the collaborating institutions were also fully activated, counting upon the precious aid of hundreds of volunteers throughout all islands.  One must take into account the actions of the anonymous volunteers who collect and release juvenile Cory’s Shearwaters; hence the actual number of rescued birds under the campaign is fairly higher than the official records.  

The commitment of the Azoreans in the “SOS Cagarro 2009” (SOS Cory’s Shearwater 2009) campaign has been demonstrated at several levels, from public and private entities to non-governmental organisations as well as to citizens in general. All collaborate whether participating in the brigades, in bird collection and storage, whether reducing light intensity (preventive action).

The “SOS Cagarro” campaign is an exemplary initiative as it gathers the effort and dedication of all the Azorean community for a common objective: the rescue of Cory’s Shearwaters, a protected and represented species in the Archipelago. The information on the species, the Campaign and on the ways how everyone can participate in this initiative is available at the following email http://soscagarro.azores.gov.pt.