Environment Portugal

Lights out: the island that goes dark to save young seabirds – in pictures

Every autumn, Corvo Island in thre Azores turns off its public lighting for a few key days to help fledgling Cory’s shearwaters as they attempt to fly to…

By The News Engine Desk Based on reporting by The Guardian

25 Oct 2026, 16:30 IST Updated 1 hour ago 1 min read 0 views

Image accompanying the story: Lights out: the island that goes dark to save young seabirds – in pictures — Image: Photograph: Andrea Zanenga · via The Guardian

The Guardian reports: Every autumn, Corvo Island in thre Azores turns off its public lighting for a few key days to help fledgling Cory’s shearwaters as they attempt to fly to the ocean guided by the stars Once a year, Corvo, the smallest and most northerly island of Portugal’s Azores archipelago, goes dark.

It began in 1991 when the community noticed huge numbers of deaths…

This environment story centres on Portugal. Names and organisations mentioned in the coverage include Cory, Corvo Island and Portugal’s Azores.

Why it matters

Developments affecting the environment are closely tied to public health, economies and how communities prepare for change.

Key details

Location: Portugal · Europe
Reported by: The Guardian
First reported: 25 Oct 2026, 16:30 IST
Key names: Cory, Corvo Island, Portugal’s Azores, Atlantic Ocean
Section: Environment
Figure cited: Since 2019, the island’s 450 or so inhabitants have chosen to switch off the lights every autumn for five nights to tackle the disastrous effects of artificial light on Cory’s shearwaters, a seabird endemic to the Atlantic Ocean. (The Guardian)