Bee-eaters have bred in Malta, raising four young at Fawwara, the first confirmed breeding record of this species.

Bee-eaters are among the more colourful migratory birds, which migrate in considerably big flocks in spring. They are less common in autumn but sizable flocks of up to 100, sometimes more, are also seen.

Antonio Schembri, considered to be the father of Maltese ornithology, in 1843 stated that he was informed by the chief medical officer of the Gozo hospital that bee-eaters "sometimes bred at Ramla l-Hamra, in Gozo, laying their eggs in the sand". But their breeding was never confirmed by Mr Schembri or by later ornithologists.

The bee-eaters at Fawwara probably bred in a mound of sand in a disused quarry. A pair was initially noted in the area at the end of May, when the hunting season had closed. Only a single bird was then noted from time to time, flying over the area or perched on wires. This could be explained as both males and females incubate the eggs and the single bird that was seen was probably the one that was not incubating.

In the third week of July, four young birds were seen being fed by two adults in the area and the birds were seen daily and were still there yesterday, hawking for insects.

As their name suggests, bee-eaters (Qird in-nahal) eat bees as well as other insects which they catch on the wing.

An adult and juvenile seen at Buskett on July 22 were probably some of the birds that bred locally. Several bee-eaters are now being seen in small flocks in other areas as the autumn migration starts to increase in intensity. Other birds such as hoopoes are also being recorded.

Some hunters unfortunately still shoot at bee-eaters. Contacted yesterday, the secretary of the Federation for Hunting and Conservation, Lino Farrugia, said he was glad to note that bee-eaters had bred.

"We have been seeing more of them each spring. They should be left in peace. They are not game birds and we hope that people enjoy them alive without disturbing them unduly," he said.