Feed me!

Andrew Gatt

Aug 18th 2009, 17:44

Spring hunting or not, we always seem to get the same few nests in the same few places - particularly Birdlife's fenced-in-and-access-restricted reserves. No more, no less. Neither rare nor endangered species. All protected all year round in any case.

Just goes to show what a "main migration route" Malta is on. Birdwatching tourism my left toe! So many millions of birds that Birdlife members pop off to Sicily..........to watch the raptor migration!!!!!

Go tell it to the marines!

Joe Camilleri

Aug 18th 2009, 10:36

The only real statement that is accompanying this photo is "ACCORDING TO BIRDLIFE". It just says it all.

David Borg Cardona

Aug 18th 2009, 08:32

@ V. Falzon..

To prove my point once again.. In the article BLM are describing the reed warbler as a "rare breeding species". Yet you admit that it has been breeding at SImar for the past 20 years with up to 7 breeding pairs every year. You are one of the stalwarts of BLM so I take it you know your facts inside out. So much for being "remarkable" and "rare" !!!

r sammut

Aug 17th 2009, 22:23

@V. Falzon
Sir you are forgetting the other success story by BirdLife, the one in the mist of a hunting zone at Ahrax tal-Madonna in Mellieha. Though BirdLife have not “secured the site's protection as a nature reserve” the yelkouan shearwater is thriving as ever! ‘Rare’ birds nesting have been recorded in previous years and are not that rear. Of course BirdLife will never corroborate such evidence especially if happen to be out of FKNK.

stephen grech

Aug 17th 2009, 20:34

@ V. Falzon. Mr Falzon I don't intend to educate anyone about ornithology, especially to those of your ilk!! But perhaps who knows, I may know a little bit more than you about this subject. I'm not talking only about 2 hours spent at the Majjistral Park.... I've been going to that place for years and I know what I'm talking about. You should be more amused with the wisdom that Birdlife - which I take it you are a fervent member - keeps feeding to the gullible. @G. Debono. Did you make your own survey to conclude that Birdlife is a well respected organisation by most maltese people?!! So now do you want us to believe you?

V. Falzon

Aug 17th 2009, 20:30

For the benefit of any reader possibly getting misled by Mr Borg Cardona's comment, BirdLife never states that Swallows, Kestrels, Swifts, Starlings etc are rare per se, but only as breeding species. For all the thousands of swallows and swifts that zip across our skies on migration, none or very few ever actually stop to nest - too many of our hunters still consider these birds good target practice. So when we get a year or two in a row with evidence of more of these birds nesting, it is indeed a cause for nature lovers to rejoice and to hope for a better future for birds.

V. Falzon

Aug 17th 2009, 20:15

@Mr Said No kumbinazzjoni here, dear Mr Said. Please check the facts before you write - Reed Warblers have been breeding at Is-Simar for almost 20 years now. Since BirdLife restored the reedbed and wetland habitat at Is-Simar and secured the site's protection as a nature reserve, up to seven pairs of Reed Warblers have been nesting there every year - a success story for this species any which way you look at it. For Reed Warblers, their rarity as a breeding species is more due to lack of suitable habitat, rather than direct persecution by hunters or trappers.

r sammut

Aug 17th 2009, 20:09

Great news BirdLife are really at it to make this year look that more remarkable! Success need to be credited where due! The public has it; at least one of the many reserves has been frequented by a nesting pair of birds. At the rate of going, it won’t be that much of a surprise if by the end of the year, BirdLife announces that a brood or two at Ghadira! have been reared.

V. Falzon

Aug 17th 2009, 19:53

@ Stephen Grech So, Mr Grech thinks that two hours at Majjistral qualify him to educate us about the current state of Maltese ornithology. Most amusing, Mr Grech, keep those words of wisdom coming..

G.Debono

Aug 17th 2009, 11:37

Stephen Grech There you have it - typical reasoning. At first he would have us not believe Birdlife, but then he wants us to believe him, just because he spent 2hrs at Majjestral park and saw a couple of sparrows. Mr. Grech, Birdlife is a well-respected organisation amongst most Maltese people. Of course this excludes, hunters, trappers and their lackey.

M.Said

Aug 17th 2009, 10:56

Another big "X kumbinazzjoni" Everyone knows that hunters or trappers are not after these ! So why this pair just bred this year and not the previous years? Maybe its that birdlife waited for the right time to spread the news? Just to give the impression that with the spring hunting ban birds will fill the maltese islands with nests( for the umpteenth time)

David Borg Cardona

Aug 17th 2009, 10:47

Once again bombastic Birdlife !!!.. Words like "remarkable and rare" are reminiscent of the sensationalism and overblown stories we have been accustomed to. What is "remarkable" however is the fact that any bird is tagged as being "rare" by Birdlife. When one reads their breeding report, amongst others we find kestrels, swifts, swallows, wagtails, bee eaters and starlings. Anybody with an iota of ornithology will know that all of these species are far from being rare. In fact, they have always been common migrants. Irrespective of spring hunting or not. So for the umpteenth time, BLM again are totally misleading the public. Their conservation manager continually harps on about these "rare" birds breeding in our countryside when he knows perfectly well that they are not rare at all and that Malta, no matter what, will never be be a suitable breeding ground for any bird except the limited few who choose to remain here. The topographic situation, hot climate and lack of nesting habitat all contribute to this. Yet he persists in feeding misleading information to the public and portrays Malta as an ornithological Eden. The truth alas, is miles away from what they are trying to make us believe.

stephen grech

Aug 17th 2009, 10:25

It seems that in Malta everyting is rare when it comes to birds!! Birdlife wants us to believe that our country is overflowing with birds. Well last saturday morning I spent 2 hours at the Majjistral Park and lo and behold I didn't see any birds, save for the sparrows that stay there all year round. I didn't hear one single lark which used to breed there every year up till last year. Even the national Merill seems to have abondoned the place.

The articles' title is a bit incomplete: It should read Feed me...some truth please!