Shearwater Season Begins: Pembrokeshire Volunteers Gear Up to Save Hundreds of Seabirds

The annual Manx Shearwater fledging season is almost upon Pembrokeshire, and a dedicated network of volunteers is already mobilising to ensure as many young birds as possible make it safely from their island burrows to the open sea. The call to arms comes from the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, working in partnership with RSPB Cymru and EcoDewi, and has the backing of Pembrokeshire County Council and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Pembrokeshire holds a remarkable place in the global story of this species. The county hosts around 60% of the world's entire breeding population of Manx Shearwaters, with Skomer Island alone home to an estimated 350,000 pairs. The birds nest in burrows on Skomer, Skokholm, Midland and Ramsey islands before embarking on one of nature's most extraordinary journeys — crossing the Atlantic and the equator to spend winter off the coast of South America.

The trouble begins when young birds leave their burrows after dark for the first time. Fledglings can be drawn off course by artificial lights on the mainland or on boats, landing them in fields, car parks and on roads where they face serious risks from predators and passing traffic. Once grounded, Manx Shearwaters are unable to take off unaided, meaning that without human intervention many simply will not survive.

Turn Off Your Lights

The scale of the problem in recent years underlines why the rescue effort matters so much. In 2024, more than 450 stranded birds were found across Pembrokeshire, with particular hotspots at Newgale, Broad Haven, the Milford Haven Waterway and Tenby. Thanks to swift action by volunteers and members of the public, those birds were returned safely to the sea. Last autumn's season was the busiest on record, with over 1,100 birds rescued by a community effort involving around 500 people.

To prepare for the 2026 season, the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales brought together volunteers and decision-makers from organisations including Pembrokeshire County Council, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, the Port of Milford Haven, 14th Signal Regiment at Cawdor Barracks and local schools for a visit to Skomer Island. The focus of the gathering was the impact of light pollution on disorienting fledgling birds.

Residents living along the coast are being urged to take simple steps during the coming weeks: draw curtains and blinds at night so interior lights are not visible from the sea, switch off unnecessary outdoor lighting, and slow down when driving along coastal roads — particularly at Newgale, where birds have regularly been found on the road itself. Anyone who spots a stranded Manx Shearwater is asked not to leave it where it is.

To report a stranded bird or to sign up as a rescue volunteer, residents can call 01437 723193 for advice and information. The fledging season typically runs from late August through into September, so the coming weeks are when the community's help will matter most.