2009: A 'remarkable year' for breeding of birds in Malta - BirdLife
2A Barn Swallow feeding its young at a nest site.
This year had been remarkable for breeding birds, BirdLife Malta said in a report today.
It said that almost half of all rare breeding species increasing their distribution and several rare species were found breeding on the islands for the first time in many years.
BirdLife said that its "2009 Rare Breeding Bird Report" showed that nine rare breeding species increased their overall distribution in the Maltese islands compared to 2008, with a further four species recorded breeding in 2009 but not recorded last year.
The highlights of the study were the first confirmed breeding records of two pairs of Common Kestrel in 15 years and the colonisation of Malta by a species new to the island - the Pallid Swift. The first confirmed breeding record of a pair of Grey Wagtail in almost 100 years and only the fourth confirmed breeding record of a pair of Common Cuckoo were other important breeding records.
The report includes all rare breeding bird records that adhered to the strict criteria laid out by the European Bird Census Council and the criteria laid out by BirdLife Malta for very rare breeding bird records. Hear-say records, or those reported by third parties that could not be verified, were not included.
"The results highlight how important the ban on spring hunting over the last two years has been for the rare breeding species in Malta. Although illegal hunting was widespread, especially in the south during spring migration, the hunting intensity was much lower over this period due to the ban. Yet, with spring hunting now banned the biggest problem for rare breeding birds arose when the rabbit hunting season opened on 1st June" said Dr Andre Raine, BirdLife Malta's Conservation Manager.
During June and July, BirdLife Malta received 10 shot protected birds including some of the birds that bred in Malta this summer.
A Pallid Swift in breeding condition, a juvenile Moorhen and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull (both born in 2009) were found dead with verified gunshot injuries. A Common Kestrel, a pair (male and female) of Common Cuckoo and a male Black-winged Stilt that had been carrying out courtship displays at Ghadira Nature Reserve were also shot.
"This year has seen very positive changes, with Maltese villages hosting new colonies of breeding Common Swifts, while the countryside is providing the food needed to raise young Common Kestrels. However, it is vital that a Wildlife Crime Unit is set up in Malta to provide rare birds with protection throughout the year, particularly during the breeding months in summer when these birds are particularly vulnerable to illegal hunting, " Dr Raine said.
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Johnny Xerri
Aug 12th 2009, 21:45
@ C Mallia
So I am misinforming now!!!
So can you explain how woodpigeon hunting takes place in the UK & quail hunting takes place in Spain with the blessing of the law for365 days a year?
How do you explain hunting sites advertising these holidays and the police in the UK & Spain granting us temporary licenses to hunt during spring.
Well let me guide you since you either seem too ignorant or too blinkered to notice.
A wild birds is a wild bird. But once that bird is classified as game (quail in Spain) or as a pest (woodpigeons, crows, raptors, magpies, stockdoves and collardoves, canadageese in the UK). They are no longer wild birds but game or pest. The commission has no say on game if a derogation is applied, and even more so has no say if the species is classified as a pest.
Most EU countries opted to classify birds as pests or as game and apply derogations.
But you Mr Misinformation arrogantly call others misinformed, when it is a well known fact that spring and autumn hunting is practiced in all the EU.
Johnny Xerri
Aug 12th 2009, 19:50
@ C Mallia,
If your version had to be true, what a great EU we have.
You seem to be happy to acknowledge that the EU countries are breaking the law. The EU police break the law by allowing us to temporary hunt in spring during these holidays.
The EU is happy to allow this to go on.
But stops 17000 hunters from hunting and allows 7 million + the same 17000 hunters to hunt in the EU
Qabdu maz zghir. Qedin sew.
Andrew Gatt
Aug 12th 2009, 18:31
@ D Vella..........for lessons on "abject failure", kindly refer to Minister George Pullicino, whose environmental record is there for all to see. The farces of alleged massacres (with no evidence produced or people charged). The collective punishments meted out. The rape and overdevelopment of the countryside. The degradation of our water table by thousands of boreholes, with illegal bowsers on our roads for all to see. The mess he made of Spring Hunting and Trapping. The inability to police and arraign an absolute minority of poachers. And on and on and on.
Re: FKNK. By your own reasoning, why don't you to start to break up fights in Paceville, to carry out citizens arrests for prostitution, theft and fraud, and solve Malta's drug problem? Ah, BUT, the Police should be doing all this, you'll say.
Well, we say the same - the ALE should be doing this - paid for out of MY taxes as well as yours. Perhaps you can also refer this to the Hon George Pullicino. Good luck.
Andrew Gatt
Aug 12th 2009, 18:21
"Any noise / disturbances made during this period (nesting period) is illegal", sez C Mallia.
OH NO! Using your same reasoning, apart from Spring Hunting, next on your we-must-ban-it list must be: BBQ's on the shore, festas and fireworks, outdoor parties, ringing of church bells, traffic noise, all light pollution, music, walking in the "reclaimed" countryside, breaking of wind..........
Hallina Sur Mallia. If you're so sure about what you write, just go to the UK and listen to the sounds of shotguns, rifles and airguns 24/7, 365 days a year. Including Spring. WHEN BIRDS ARE BREEDING.
Get real. Come down to earth. And write FACTS, not nonsense.
r sammut
Aug 12th 2009, 17:08
@C Mallia
‘European birds start breeding from begining of March and continues till July, when the adults start to moult.’
When BLM did start see nests of the species in question? The kestrels were the first in line? When was that… end of May, beginning of June? So nests in Malta were late starters.
Who do you suppose would be those people eager to go about ‘touching/disturbing active nests’? Any bride/groom would certainly not pass a chance to get extra practice for her/his up-coming ringing ceremony!!!
What do you think, Sir?
DVella
Aug 12th 2009, 14:20
@ALEX CASHA
. . . both are Conservationists??? GET A LIFE MAN!! Either you need a dictionary or else you need to come back down to Earth!! How does trapping anything that flies or killing anything that moves equate with Conservation?? How does filling our countryside with lead pellets conserve our natural environment?? It's no use alluding to decent law abiding hunters because repeated evidence has shown that they are few and far between. In any case, the abject failure of organisations like FKNK to actively discipline law breakers . . . . several of which are its members . . . . does not exactly make them credible!!! The fact that there are noticably more birds and breeding pairs around than ther have been in decades, after just two closed Spring Seasons might suggest something to people of adequate inelligence, in spite of certain people insisting that the impact of Spring hunting on bird populations and migration patterns is insignificant!!
C Mallia
Aug 12th 2009, 13:34
@ r sammut
European birds start breeding from begining of March and continues till July, when the adults start to moult. This also depends on the species and EU regions in question. Any noise / disturbances made during this period is illegal, and people touching/disturbing active nests are liable to prosecution. Thats the EU law. Please check your scientific and legal facts right.
C Mallia
Aug 12th 2009, 13:24
@Mr Xerri
I am well informed thank you very much. Look here:
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/647
The comissions says: " Under the Wild Birds Directive the killing of wild birds is banned, but some species can be hunted as long as it does not occur during the breeding or spring migration season."
And the above link is not some irrelevant hunting website, which may be breaking EU law anyway, but from the commission's website itself. Will you please stop misinforming people yourself
ALEX CASHA
Aug 12th 2009, 00:45
I like to ask a question to BLM why birdlife malta cant work or have an agrement with FKNK like other cauntrys in the EU ??????????
They both are conservationists,but may be in a difrent way,but if they work togethar,may be there will be more self regulation,and motivation where hunters,trappers and bird watchers will have the space to practise thier hobby,even the goverment should put this issue in the hands who can handle it,not make the sitiuation worse
Come on BIRDLIFE its time to do something real,
Johnny Xerri
Aug 11th 2009, 23:27
@ C Mallia,
Can you please specify where you got your 'EU bans spring hunting across the board' because I have been legally hunting in the uk during spring, with both the maltese police (who issued a the relevent permits) and the Uk police (who issued the relevent permits) fully aware.
I am aware that hunting takes place legally in 20EU member states under the disguise of pest controlling and that in 7 member states spring hunting is allowed through derogations.
So how exactly is spring hunting banned across the board? Is banning in Malta banning accros the board? Silly me I forgot that the 17000 hunters in Malta amount to much more than the 7 milllion hunters in the entire EU. Must have got my numbers wrong. That makes sense banning 17000 out of 7 million, is really banning across the board.
I would suggest that you get your facts right before trying to brainwash people, unless you're as fishy as greenpeace's tuna.
r sammut
Aug 11th 2009, 23:21
@C Mallia
Sir are you implying shots in April/May scare birds off breeding in June/July? You seem to forget that the worst noises to scare birds are during the actual nesting time! Breeding is then carried out bang on the festa season, open air discos, BBQs and other disturbances of this over populated place! So if the birds can handle these, they won’t be bothered by the since-forgotten, long-finished spring shooting! The scientific deduction in this direction is lacking credibility.
Why no registered increase in nesting was noted last year or the year before that, when the spring season was terminated prematurely?
These few ‘extra’ nests are nothing more than just coincidences of nature. Same as farmers may have a particular good harvest or fishermen a good catch! It happen once in a while because of favourable conditions! Nests are never brought about by any BL’s special effect; as otherwise the birds’ sanctuaries would be nothing short as overflowing with wild life!
BTW Malta is being taken to the European Court of Justice because of Government misapplied derogations, not because Malta is not entitled to derogations! The BirdLife’s efficiency shines mostly in manoeuvres to ban hunting altogether!
C Mallia
Aug 11th 2009, 18:42
What some pro-hunting people in this blog cannot stomach is that, even in the face of positive factual bird news, they are inclined to take every opportunity to make destructive criticism and discredit birdlife, not realising that they are also discrediting themselves in the process.
@Andrew Gatt
Your argument about not effecting general bird breeding in spring with hunting only quail and turtle doves does not scientifically hold and this is why the EU bans spring hunting across the board. The noise and disturbances that occur in the countryside during the hunting seasons are reasons enough for any type of bird to abandon nests or not nest at all. BTW the Commission officially started proceedings against Malta and not Birdlife, and Birdlife is just doing its job as an efficient NGO to lobby for law and order in rampant wildlife crime.
r sammut
Aug 11th 2009, 18:17
Even with the ‘loophole’ rabbit hunting going on, it’s good to hear 'This year had been remarkable for breeding birds' by BirdLife! Actually BL are a bit slow to start getting results as the spring ban started two and a half seasons ago! The birds have had the best part of two and a half years to establish breeding. That’s apart the bird sanctuaries including Commino, where hunting is banned year round!
It seems that BirdLife are viewing the Malta Archipelago through the wrong end of the telescope when claiming ‘the colonisation of Malta’! With four new species breeding, meaning just five pairs in all, one needs to trot about a bit to even catch a glimpse of a brood! Other birds have previously been recorded nesting by BL, even during open spring seasons years!
So one might ask: is this ‘colonisation’ due to any ban on spring hunting or just vagrant behaviour of birds? Birds do settle where the habitat is to their liking!
David Borg Cardona
Aug 11th 2009, 17:21
@ Geoffrey Saliba cont...
The way BLM tackles the whole issue by issuing inflammatory statements..(for ex the trapping billboards) and by sensationalising every single incident has only managed to rupture even more the relationship between hunters and bird lovers. Instead of trying to find somekind of amicable situation (as is the norm in any other country) you have only sent each party on its own path. To give you a small example.. your relationship with extremist groups lke CABS & PROACT does you more harm than good believe me.
And for the reference I will NEVER critisicze those who fight poaching yet I will always critisicze those who do so in a manner that has only come up with the coldest relationship between BLM & FKNK since the inception of both organisations. Need I remind you of the well known fact that things have deteriorted further since the arrival of 2 particular foreigners. You form part of the hierarchy of BLM.. you know well what I am talking about !!
David Borg Cardona
Aug 11th 2009, 17:11
@ Geoffrey Saliba..
If you read correctly what I wrote, you will note that I critiscized BLM due to the fact that they seem to believe a member of the public whilst not believing the statements by FKNK. This member of the public now is "well known " to BLM.. fair enough,, you have a right to believe your own source but yet you still rubbish FKNK's claims that other kestrels and quails were breeding. As much as your members are out in the field, even so are FKNK's members and FKNK have absolutely no reason to invent such statements about breeding birds. Hence my point stands..
With rgds to the tape lures, I admit that you are right and tapes can be used with mist nets for bird ringing. Therefore I take my statement back and apologise.
If you read my contributions, you will see that I am one of the first to condemn illegal hunting and consider poachers as a blemish to our sport and criminals to wildlife. However, the apporach BLM is taking will never solve the problem and instead has aggravated the problem even more
cont....
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Aug 11th 2009, 17:03
Sweet dreams, Mr Joseph Borg. Contrary to your wishful ban, Maltese hunters will soon be enjoying their LEGAL HUNTING SEASON come 1st September.
Ms Julie Peace, you should be ashamed of your insultive comment in Mr S Busuttil's regard! So now you expect that only the British may kill wildlife? Shocking superiority complex indeed! Madam, the Maltese hunters are no inferior to other hunters! You should actually thank Mr Busuttil for visiting your country and contributing towards your economy!
Very well written Mr David Borg Cardona! You really hit the nail on the head. La verita' offende - and this is confirmed by Mr Geoffrey Saliba's (BirdLife's Campaign Coordinator) quick response to your comment - which to be honest, I take it as further confirming what you state!
Finally, I can see that BirdLife has commenced on their usual deceitful campaign to the run-up of the opening of the Legal Hunting Season! Well, it is only the gullible few who are impressed by your Press Releases! I know of many who do not fall in this category!!
Andrew Gatt
Aug 11th 2009, 16:49
" A remarkable year for breeding", say Birdlife. Naturally, due to us despicable hunters again being banned from hunting in spring (for quail and turtle dove ONLY), as promised by Government AND accepted by Birdlife itself in 2003/2004. And no trapping in Spring for some years now, too.
So, dear Birdlife, please explain, where are the millions of birds ? Why are your reserves (undisturbed habitat with strictly controlled access) practically empty? Why have no quail or turtle doves been confirmed as breeding? Why have you described Buskett as a "chaffinch stronghold"!! and then recorded 1 PAIR breeding? Why do you STILL spead the lie that Malta is on a main migratory highway when another Birdflie Website shows the truth - see link
http://www.borntotravelcampaign.com/flyways/route2/ - and exposes your blatant misinformation?
You instigated proceedings against Malta to stop a centuries-old tradition of taking GAME birds (quail and turtle dove). But these few pairs of breeding birds mentioned in your report are ALL PROTECTED - ALL YEAR ROUND. Nothing to do with spring hunting but everything to do with your manipulation of public opinion and demonising an entire community. Guess you have to justify your salaries and EU grants somehow, eh?
Geoffrey Saliba
Aug 11th 2009, 16:24
Regarding the use of tape lures to attract Pallid Swift, your statement is once again completely wrong. Ringers conducting scientific studies of wild birds can legally use tape lures under national law whereas trappers and hunters who trap and shoot birds for pleasure may not. Bird ringing is a scientific method of studying birds and the birds are immediately released into the wild. Next time you post defamatory statements on this blog we suggest that you check your facts.
Rather than criticizing people who are fighting illegal hunting, maybe you should consider fighting it too as it sheds bad light on this sport. Luckily many law abiding hunters share our views and help us in our conservation work against illegal hunting and trapping.
Geoffrey Saliba, BirdLife Malta Campaigns Coordinator
Geoffrey Saliba
Aug 11th 2009, 16:24
Mr. David Borg Cardona,
You have made defamatory statements against Dr. Raine and BirdLife Malta in this blog.
Our report lists a pair of cuckoos reported as shot by a member of the public. This person is well known to our organisation and the birds in question were not heard calling again, as they had done regularly over the preceding weeks. As we clearly stated in our report, hearsay and unconfirmed third party reports are not included in the 2009 Rare Breeding Bird report. We also do not include reports from third parties that are not known to BirdLife in our illegal hunting reports. If we did our illegal hunting reports would be far higher.
Furthermore please note that shortly after this report, a pair of shot cuckoos were recovered from another location and passed onto the authorities. They may or may not be the same birds. This does not change the fact that two shot cuckoos during the breeding season were found and the breeding pair in Mizieb also coincidentally disappeared.
Continued
V Falzon
Aug 11th 2009, 15:48
Great news indeed, though it's no surprise that birds move in if given a fighting chance - this is after all what BirdLife has been trying to achieve for almost half a century. What IS surprising to me is that the birds took the cue so fast! So here's to a future with more birds. And less bird killers.
I also thank the learned Mr Censu Attard who went to so much trouble to bring us proof that cuckoos do not build nests. But, er... who said they did?!
Antoine Grima
Aug 11th 2009, 15:31
It's a shame that only birdlife get to see these wonders of nature.I for one live in Buskett and have seen no changes.Maybe i need glasses ???
mark sultana
Aug 11th 2009, 15:15
Why is it so hard to swallow the fact that a hunting free spring gives so much positive results...and this in just two years. Well done to all conerned in taking such decisons as banning hunting in spring.
Julie Peace
Aug 11th 2009, 14:18
steve busuttil:-
Not happy with shooting wildlife in Malta, you are now coming to the UK to shoot our wildlife. I for one do not welcome you here
censu attard
Aug 11th 2009, 14:03
Don`t forget that hunting season opens next month,now maybe next week or the week after we might even see a photo of a shot protected bird and what else,ok let me remember what we had last year and the year before,always the same stories before the opening of each hunting and trapping season.
Please Note that CUCKOOS do not make nests,have a look at this web-sites
http://animals.jrank.org/pages/783/Cuckoos-Anis-Roadrunners-Cuculiformes-COMMON-CUCKOO-Cuculus-canorus-SPECIES-ACCOUNTS.html
http://www.oiseaux.net/birds/common.cuckoo.html
http://wwwsoc.nii.ac.jp/osj/english/activities/ornith_science/ornsci4_1abst.html
Kevin francica
Aug 11th 2009, 13:58
it is always good news to hear of new and expanding colonies of birds on our islands.
It is funny to learn that most of the birds did not breed in Birdlife's reserves, I wonder why, given the prime stretches of land they have under their management. Also there was no mention of the breeding results of the shearwater project - a project to which they have received a considerable sum of money from the EU.
steve busuttil
Aug 11th 2009, 13:52
Mark,
It only shows what a sad situation we have on this island and within the EU, what is good for the goose is not always good for the gander!
Get it?
Mark Galea
Aug 11th 2009, 13:37
@steve busuttil
Then this blog is useless. Everybody should be happy - both environmentalists and hunters since now they can travel abroad to pursue their sport.
David Borg Cardona
Aug 11th 2009, 13:33
@ Dr. Andre Raine..
Again you persist on providing innacurate statements to the public. This is NOT the first breeding record of kestrels in 15 years as you state. i know perfectly well what I am saying. Ask around and you will know.. especially in Gozo.
In your report, you quote that the pair of cuckoos at Mizieb were "reported as shot by a member of the public" and this is considered to be credible enough to determine that they were shot. Yet further up you dismiss as "hear say" reports by FKNK that other pairs of kestrels and quail were breeding.
You declare that Pallid Swifts were "attracted by a tape lure". Such tape lures are illegal if used for hunting purposes and can only be used to teach oneself to imitate birdsongs. But lo and behold Birdlife can use them to attract swifts to mist nets. You seem to interpret our wildlife laws as and how you please. So long as it suits BLM's needs. Dr. Raine, you are again trying to impress what you deem to be a gullible public by senstionalism and fancy reports. All this to further vent your hatred towards the hunting lobby !!
steve busuttil
Aug 11th 2009, 13:22
You can ban all you want on this tiny insignificant (catches wise) island while every other country in the EU are allowed to hunt to their heart's content.
Its not a problem anymore since Maltese hunters are now travelling to the UK, Romania, Hungary, Italy and Sicily and also outside the EU's borders such as Tunisia and Egypt.
I for one will be in the UK this winter where i will enjoy catching more game in 2 days than any Maltese hunter does in a whole season and these include: Rabbits, Phoesant, Partridge, Woodcock, Wood pigeon, Red Deer, Monk Jack, Roe Deer, Fox etc etc
All the above within the confines of the Law (which is how most Maltese hunters do things) and with total respect for sustainability and the environment.
Finally for the record all the breeding mentioned above has been taking place on Malta for ever, Birdlife are once again twisting facts and half-truths.
Gladys Borg
Aug 11th 2009, 13:18
@ P James
Spring hunting is an issue that effects countries other than Malta due to migration etc
Bull fighting, cruel and barbaric as it is, is a Spain only (country-specific) activity therefore the EU does not have any right to interfere
SMuscat
Aug 11th 2009, 13:18
Dear PJames,
The issue is not with the fact of animal cruelty or with hunting per se. Hunting is a recognized sport that is allowed in all of europe. The fact is that during spring, birds are breeding and if they are not allowed to do that they would not be able to keep the population stable. If hunting was allowed without any control there would not be any more birds to shoot at. This is obviously a laymen terms I am sure that others can explain the ramification much better then I do. I personally don't have a problem with hunting as long as it is made in a sustainable and legal manner.
P James
Aug 11th 2009, 13:05
How come the EU banned spring hunting in Malta and they do not ban Bull Fighting is Spain???????? The EU cannot pass cruelty to animal laws onto one country and not the other.
Joseph Borg
Aug 11th 2009, 13:03
This is great news.
Let's keep on with this and abolish hunting once and for all.