The emblem of Birdlife Malta

Shearwaters are medium-sized long-winged seabirds. There are more than 20 species of shearwaters, a few larger ones in the genus Calonectris and many smaller species in the genus Puffinus.

These tube nose birds fly with stiff wings and use a “shearing” flight technique to move across wave fronts with the minimum of active flight.

These birds are most common in temperate and cold waters so the Maltese Islands have the perfect conditions for breeding.

These birds travel very long distances. We have had Maltese birds turning up in Greece during the wintering season.

The story of the Yelkouan Shearwaters' annual pilgrimage to Malta begins in November.

Ten per cent of the world's population of the species come back to the rocky cliffs of the Maltese Islands to look for a nesting sites in which to raise their chicks in the coming spring.

This project is dedicated entirely to attracting breeding pairs and ensure that they raise their chicks successfully.

Their migration back to the islands coincided with the beginning of the EU LIFE Yelkouan Shearwater Project.