Yelkouan Shearwater Colony

Night Flyers

The Yelkouan Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) is one of Europe's rarest seabirds. On Comino, 50-80 pairs nest — making the island one of the most important breeding sites for this species in the entire Mediterranean.

These birds are active only at night. During the day they shelter in cliff crevices, and after dark they head out to hunt — flying low over the waves, catching fish with their beaks. Their distinctive, eerie cry at night — sounding like a crying child — for centuries inspired fear and legends among fishermen.

BirdLife Malta has been running a conservation programme here for years: ringing chicks, monitoring nests, and fighting invasive rats that eat eggs. Thanks to these efforts, the Comino population is slowly growing.