Until 2000, the official status of the Eurasian collared dove was that it occurred only accidentally in the Maltese islands. In fact, up to three years ago, there were a mere eight appearances since records started being kept.

These sightings occurred in spring (four times), in summer (once), and in autumn (three times). During 2001 there were at least five sightings, all in summer. During 2002 there were no fewer than seven records, all occurring in between late spring and early summer. Up to now, this year, there have already been five recorded occurrences. This is undoubtedly a conservative estimate because many more would have been caught.

Why the sudden change in status?

The story of the Eurasian collared dove is a captivating one. A century ago, this species was found primarily on the Indian subcontinent, although its range extended into eastern Europe as far as Turkey and parts of the Balkans. In the early 1900s, however, the species began expanding its range westward at an explosive rate.

Collared doves first bred in Hungary in 1932, in Romania in 1933, Czechoslovakia in 1938, Poland, Lithuania and Austria in 1943, Germany in 1945, Italy in 1947, the Netherlands in 1949, Denmark in 1950, Sweden in 1951, Switzerland and France in 1952, Belgium and Norway in 1955, Luxembourg in 1956, Latvia in 1962, Finland in 1966, and Spain and Portugal in 1974.

Until 1953, the species had never even been seen in Britain, where it nested for the first time in 1955. As available habitat was colonised throughout western Europe the next generation pushed further north, west and south. By the end of the 20th century, the species had managed to push west from the Balkans and Turkey to become a familiar sight in parks and gardens across Europe. In a span of over 40 years, the collared dove has successfully colonised an area of more than 2.5 million square kilometres.

Just 20 years after first colonising the United Kingdom, the collared dove population stood at 40,000 pairs in 1973, meaning a doubling of population size each year.

The collared dove reached Tunisia and Morocco in 1986, and Sicily in 1991. Although collared doves have been successful in their own right, it is clear that expanding populations on the continent helped fuel the supply of pioneers crossing the Mediterranean.

What sparked the explosion? Nobody knows for sure. However, there are several contributory factors. For one thing, the collared dove feeds on a wider range of food than its close relative the turtle dove. Furthermore, it produces crop milk which it feeds to its young, instead of seed.

This emancipates the species from relying on a seasonal food supply and enables pairs to reproduce at almost any time of the year and rear more than one brood. Combined with this is the fact that the collared dove, unlike the turtle dove, is a resident species and therefore has the opportunity to keep on nesting even after the turtle dove has migrated to Africa.

Whereas the turtle dove nests between May and August, the collared dove breeds between March and September in the colder northern climates, and possibly throughout the year in the more southerly ranges. The collared dove is also more flexible than the turtle dove in its choice of nesting sites, and readily adepts to artificial sites. Whereas turtle doves nest exclusively in trees, shrubs and hedges, collared doves nest also on pylons, ledges of buildings, and roof guttering.

Collared doves have taken readily to nesting in suburban areas and have found the ubiquitous groups of conifers planted in towns and villages very much to their liking. They are confiding birds and they demonstrate a wider tolerance of man than turtle doves do. Collared doves have occupied a vacant "ecological niche" not monopolised by an existing species. These factors may work to reduce or eliminate direct competition between the two related species and therefore help population expansion. The collared dove has managed to reverse the trend towards inexorable decline that seems to be the fate of many European birds.

Given the incredible explosion of the collared dove throughout Europe, the sudden surge of recorded sightings of the bird in the Maltese islands is far from coincidental. It is significant to note that the most recent colonisation efforts are from North Africa and Sicily, countries close to Malta.

The expansion has not stopped since. There is every possibility that the bird may gain a foothold in the Maltese islands as well. However, in order for it to succeed as it did in other countries around us, everyone needs to play their part.

Here we have a golden opportunity to encourage an adaptable species that has managed to conquer a plethora of different environments and climates, to remain and nest in our islands. Despite our congested country, the collared dove would undoubtedly find appropriate niches to occupy as it has done so successfully all over the continent, in North Africa, Sicily and in other Mediterranean islands.

However, this can only be achieved through direct involvement and commitment of hunters and hunting associations. There is no one better placed to do this. This is where the role of the hunters' organisations becomes vital. It is clearly evident that most of their office bearers realise that the time is ripe for change, and they would gladly grab the opportunity to take a proactive approach. Hunters should be given the opportunity to contribute to bird protection and conservation in a positive way.

Ownership is critical for the success of any project. I am convinced that hunters would be willing to protect birds that they have helped to become established. It is a matter of pride. Enjoying the pride of success is only natural. A dose of national pride can work wonders in this respect. The case of the blue rock thrush (il-merill) is a classic example that should be emulated. Since the bird was declared the national bird of Malta, clearly signifying ownership and a sense of pride that comes with it, the respect for the bird has grown immensely. It is very rare indeed to find a hunter or trapper who would take the bird.

This is a direct appeal to hunters' associations to guide their members and the hunting sector and instruct them to spare the collared dove and allow the species enough space and time to become established, as I have no doubt it will. It would be indeed tragic if they do not take this opportunity to prove that their claim to being also "conservationists" is credible. The hunting associations are in a position of strength and they are able, if they so decide, to issue direct instructions as to how hunters should act in this instance. But they need also to have the courage. Let us not allow this opportunity to slip.

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