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Columbretes (1895) > Animals & Plants > "Baldritjas" (black-tailed shearwaters)

"Baldritjas" (black-tailed shearwaters)

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Lo que dice el Arxiduc:

“Many black-tailed shearwaters (Puffinus cinereus) build their nests in the caves located beneath the lighthouse—on the hillside overlooking the port—taking advantage of holes dug by rabbits, in which they lay their single eggs. Many also nest on the other islets. When you look down from the sheer walls of Columbrete Grande, you can see them emerging from and disappearing into the caves, like ghosts defending their ancient right to the island, now inhabited by man. In olden times, they must have been more abundant, since the remains of their bones are found all over, indicating a flourishing presence on the islands.

These coasts are home to neither the pigeons nor the cormorants found in large quantities on the Balearic Islands. I suppose these heavy birds don’t like the rough rocks, since it hurts their legs if they spend too much time sitting there.”

Urios, G., Nachtwey, J., Translation, Columbretes, 1895, Castellón City Council, 1990.

Datos proyecto Nixe III:

According to the Nature Reserve experts:

“Today, Calonectris diomedea (Cory’s shearwater) continues nesting on Columbretes Islands, though their population is decreasing. […] It is listed as being in danger of extinction in the Valencian Catalogue of Threatened Fauna (Catálogo Valenciano de Especies de Fauna Amenazadas, Decree 32/2004, dated February 27^th, by the Valencian Department of the Environment).

Their numbers are declining due to the death of adult birds resulting from fishing.”

On the night of the new moon we spent in the cove which makes up Columbrete Grande we were surprised by the spectacular song of the shearwaters. On such a night, you can imagine that you are on an island within the polar circle. They are birds which live on the sea and only land to breed.