El Paíño Europeo

Abstract

The  European  storm-petrel,  Hydrobates  pelagicus, is a Mediterranean Seabird of small size that breeds on small islands of the European coast. It feeds at the sea and visits land only at night for mating and breeding. Current population is estimated between 430.000 and 510.000 pairs, from which between 5.000 and 10.000 pairs breed at the Spanish coast. Mean threats to this species are the invasion of terrestrial predators to the breeding colonies and luminous contamination, that could increase predation by gulls during the night.