'Remarkable year' for bird breeding
A Barn Swallow feeding its young at a nest site. Photo: Joe Sultana
Several rare bird species were seen breeding for the first time in a long while and almost half of all species increased their distribution this year, according to a BirdLife Malta report.
The report concluded that 2009 was a "remarkable year" for breeding birds in Malta and this highlighted how important the hunting ban over the last two years had been.
"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," a BirdLife spokesman said.
According to the study, two pairs of Common Kestrel bred for the first time in 15 years. There was also the colonisation of the Pallid Swift, a species new to the island.
This year also saw 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.
The 2009 Rare Breeding Bird Report showed nine rare breeding species increased their overall distribution compared to last year, while a further four species recorded breeding in 2009 but not last year.
However, BirdLife warned the biggest problem for rare breeding birds arose during the rabbit hunting season which opened on June 1.
Last May BirdLife urged the government not to issue any more rabbit hunting licences as the number of licensed rabbit hunters had soared by more than 20 per cent in the last 15 months, coinciding with the first ban on spring hunting in 2008.
"This year has seen very positive changes, with villages hosting new colonies of breeding Common Swifts, while the countryside is providing the food needed to raise young Common Kestrels."
However, BirdLife reiterated its call for a Wildlife Crime Unit to be set up to provide rare birds protection throughout the year, particularly during the breeding months in summer when these birds were particularly vulnerable to illegal hunting.
During June and July, Birdife said it received 10 shot protected birds.
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 for very rare breeding bird records.
"Hearsay records, or those reported by third parties that could not be verified, were not included," BirdLife said.
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Belle Xerri
Aug 14th 2009, 10:18
I hope everyone have seen the millions of birds that passed over Malta while the hunting season was closed! According to birdlife, hunters kill millions of birds each year... never seen millions??? I think birdlife are living in another country!
I think the spring season should be open. Spring hunting has been part of our culture for years, Claudio Baglioni sang "L-Ahhar Bidwi F'Wied il-Gasel" where it mentions the spring hunting ghas'Summien u Gamiem".
And please note that the only persons safeguarding the maltese countryside are the hunters and trappers.
Everyone knows about Mizieb. FKNK plant trees and make a nice small forest, they reserve a good part of it for the rest of the Maltese to use as a pic-nic area.... what do they get in retuurn? They want hunters and trappers to move out!! While pic-niccers enjoy the shade and their family, they play ball, damage trees, make BBQ's, leave rubbish everywhere, burn trees and climb on trees, damage the hunters and trappers areas and go home. Hunters and Trappers clean after them!! Maltese pic-niccers really know how to say thank you!! Well Done!!
Carmel Serracino-Inglott
Aug 13th 2009, 21:53
TY BL keep up the good work. Many silent voices believe you
Lino Farrugia
Aug 13th 2009, 17:16
Genuinely interested persons please refer to following link:
http://www.huntinginmalta.org.mt/uploads/24/628/2009_Spring_Migration_and_Breeding_PR.pdf
Thanks.
Lino Farrugia
Secretary - FKNK
r sammut
Aug 13th 2009, 15:56
Given such media coverage, this “remarkable year” colonisation of the Maltese Islands would make one believe millions of breed birds are now seen flocking all over! In realty all this amounts to just four new species meaning five nests altogether, with regular breeders!
The other side of the coin is that not all species are as rare as BirdLife are implying! Other records namely by FKNK show otherwise. Just follow link
http://www.huntinginmalta.org.mt/uploads/24/375/FKNK_MALTA_WILD_BIRDS_CHECK-LIST_JUNE_2008.xls
BirdLife not only snob such evidence but try their utmost to keep under the carpet! Otherwise how can BL do their usual jabs at hunting!
If this “remarkable year” was all due to the spring ban, how come it had such a slow a start? The ban has been on for two and a half seasons! This is nothing more than coincidence, the works of nature; similar to yields in farming, better at some point! The vagrant behaviour of birds makes them choosey to habitat; spring ban or not as previously recorded! Dr Raine should know a thing or two about birds’ behaviour! He is mum about such things and the all but deserted bird sanctuaries under his care! Otherwise his stay here will be jeopardised!
marco meli
Aug 13th 2009, 15:06
Well said Andrew!!!!!!! ilqat l musmar fuq rasu.
Andrew Gatt
Aug 13th 2009, 12:13
REMARKABLE? YOU BET ITS REMARKABLE!!
Remarkable that none of the birds mentoned are listed as endangered.
Remarkable how empty Birdlife's fenced-in-and-access-restricted reserves are.
Remakable that after "reclaiming the countryside" the birds bred on Churches, towers and in villages!
Remarkable that Buskett, a "chaffinch stronghold", produced the grand total of 1 nest. Remarkable that the millions of birds are nowhere to be seen.
Remarkable how the countryside looked no different to most previous years IN SPITE of no spring hunting and no trapping.
Remarkable how Birdlife expect birds to breed when we have little or no suitable/undisturbed habitat.
Remarkable how these Press Releases are always timed just before the opening of the Autumn Hunting season.