The “SOS Cagarro” (SOS Cory’s Shearwater) campaign which took place between October 1 and November 15, resulted in the rescue of 3744 birds in the Azores, announced the Regional Director for the Environment in Horta today.

Regarding the results of this initiative, which took place Azores by the first time in 1995, Frederico Cardigos said this year's campaign "was a huge success," not by the number of rescues, which was below expectations compared to 2008, but essentially by the “commitment of the Azorean population as well as by the initiative’s organisation.”

“There was an extraordinary involvement of public and private entities, more than 100, which was demonstrated by that fact that there always night brigades on the roads,” said the Regional director for the Environment.

According to the Regional Director, the record number of rescued birds in 2008 was not reached this year due to “reasons that were not directly related to the campaign itself and not because the number of involved people lowered.”

Moreover, Frederico Cardigos said that the number of dead birds that were found on the road diminished this year,  which demonstrates that “there was a more efficient rescue.”

He also reminded that the number of fallen birds on the road this year was reduced “apparently due to better weather conditions than last year, and to the fact that there was full moon during the period when birds were left their nests.”

Cardigos Frederick concluded that he is “extraordinarily pleased with the 3744 birds were rescued and with the environmental protection messages that have been efficiently conveyed. Hence, he believes “that we are actively contributing to the recovery of the Cory’s Shearwater population in the Azores.

S. Jorge and S. Miguel, each island with more than 800 rescues, were the islands where more young Cory’ Shearwaters were returned to the sea in this year’s campaign, followed by Pico (over 600), Faial (over 550) and Corvo (over 300).

Cory’s Shearwater, which nests in the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Savage Islands and in Berlengas, is the most abundant seabird in the Azorean islands. The Breeding Azorean population represents 75% of the world population of the subspecies Calonectris diomedea borealis and nearly 60% of the species Calonectris diomedea.