Better to be an ugly duckling... even if you are a bird!
The Spanish sparrow.
The Spanish sparrow is the most common breeding bird on the Maltese islands.
It often passes unnoticed and is often ignored probably because it is not colourful and does not have a beautiful song.
Its success is a result of its feeding and breeding habits but its general lack of attractive features has helped it by no small means.
If it had a beautiful song like that of the finches, it would have been trapped and placed in a small cage in such large numbers that it would probably have become very rare or extinct a very long time ago.
Finches have been trapped on the Maltese Islands for decades.
When trapping them was still allowed, they did not breed except in exceptional years when a pair or two managed to build a nest undisturbed.
Another breeding bird, the blue rock thrush, which is Malta’s national bird, has a loud melodious song and the males are beautiful blue grey.
Thoughtless people used to be on the lookout for its nests and took away all the young birds from any accessible ones.
However, this bird managed to continue breeding here in small numbers because it often builds its nest on inaccessible cliff faces.
Accessible nests are sometimes still robbed of their young.
If this ugly pastime had to stop, this beautiful bird would become more common and would even start breeding closer to human habitation.
The Spanish sparrow has neither the colourful plumage nor the ability to sing beautifully like some other more popular birds but it is still a striking and interesting bird.
Although it prefers to perch on trees and poles, it can often be seen feeding on the ground and sometimes, especially where they are given food, they can become very tame.
The best way to observe sparrows is to put up a bird table outside a window and within days you will start getting sparrows feeding on it, giving you the opportunity to observe them as well as other birds at close quarters.
Popular Stories
In Discussion
19 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
joseph lia
Aug 23rd 2012, 15:14
@Glen Micallef, your blinkered opinion against live finch capture has muddled your ornithological expertise.
You keep blaming the few trapping illegalities for the lack of an established and viable breeding finch population on the Maltese Islands.
As Mr Mifsud Bonnici rightly wrote, the island sanctuary of Comino is also like the other Med islands, hot, dry and trapping free. Still no viable breeding finches.
Glenn Micallef
Aug 23rd 2012, 22:27
Mr.Lia, I do hold trappers responsible for the absence of a local finch population. My knowledge is not limited to ornithology, but also to local finch trapping and captive breeding. I do know much more than you would expect me know. Trapping has decreased, but by no means limited to a few illegal trappers. Using your federations own words:" The trappers scattered all over those valleys for fear of being caught." and this in just one locality. Would you now quantify 'a few illegal trappers'? From the press release it seems that there were enough trappers to scatter all over the valleys....
The island sanctuary of Comino is not suitable for finches. the only finch that can breed there is the Trumpter Finch, which is rare. Which finch species would you expect to breed on Comino? Comino does not have the required habitat for the common finches to breed as there is no cover for nests and no farmland, which is the main source of nourishment for finches. Grasses and annuals are very rare on Comino, the vegetation is characterized by low shrubs which do not offer nourishment for finches. On which plant that grows on Comino would you expect Serins, linnets, goldfinches and greenfinches to raise their young? Would you expect chaffinches to breed on Comino? Which islands in the Med are just like Comino and have a viable finch population? For once prove your point and prove me wrong. The habitat on these islands is very similar to Malta, rural towns surrounded by farmland and some trees, not bare garrigue. Have you been to Balerics? Those are very similar to Malta. Finches are everywhere. Or else, closer to home, Lampedusa or Pantelleria? Are those just like Comino, bare garrigue, with no soil or tree in sight? Come on Mr.Lia, it is time you remove your blinkers and accept the fact that through your greed your are depriving an entire nation from enjoying finches all year round, as is the case in ALL other European countries and islands, even the closet ones to us.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Aug 23rd 2012, 10:30
@Glen Micallef.
There were originally 4000 trappers when a few pairs of finches bred in Malta and there are still a few breeding pairs now that a few trappers have gone to trapping illegally. Are you implying that the few trappers that trap illegally are catching all the finches? if this is your reasoning than i pity your intelligence.
Also trapping on Comino has been banned for decades, can you tell me what finch breeds on Comino where he only disturbance is Birdlife members and their mist nets?
As for reporting trappers that trap illegally how often have you witnessed a crime? Rest assured whoever wants to break the law does so in the most discreet way possible and therefore is difficult to trace for us, the police and your 3000 members.
Another point you also seem to miss is that illegal trapping is mostly carried out in autumn since spring trapping of finches has long been banned. Still few finches breed.
As for the "massive campaign" BLM where meant to launch with the 175,000 euro EUgrant and the 175,000 Euro from other local funding. What has this campaign consisted of?
TO MY KNOWLEDGE BILLBOARDS ILLEGALLY ERECTED, A MATCHBOX SIZED CALENDER AND A CONFERENCE FOR PHANTOM TRAPPERS IS ALL THAT HAS BEEN PUBLICIZED. HAVE THE REMAINING FUNDS STILL TO BE SPENT?
CLEARLY NO ANSWER WILL BE FORTHCOMING SINCE WHO WOULD DARE SAY THE TRUTH.
M. Cardona
Aug 23rd 2012, 13:49
Mr Mifsud Bonnici,
excellent remarks. Particularly the point you made regarding Comino where despite the complete absence of any bird trappers, no finches have ever established themselves there.
Unfortunately, it is repeatedly proven that brainwashed individuals are simply not capable to evaluate issues objectively. So my guess is that your pity in this instance is so very well placed and fully sustained.
Glenn Micallef
Aug 23rd 2012, 14:39
First of all, trapping has gone underground and has certainly diminished. However would you quantify 'few trappers'? And yes, I confirm that if any finches breed they are still being trapped by these illegal trappers, preventing a the local finch populations from establishing itself.
Comino is garrigue. There are hardly any trees for nesting and farmlamd for feeding. The only finch that can
breed there is the Trumpter Finch, which is rare. The habitat is not suitable for the common species. Furthermore, Mr. Salvu Vella described how he has witnessed Feral Pigeons and Spanish Sparrows leaving Comino and heading for Gozo to feed (since the Pig Farm closed down). Therefore, should any finch species breed on Comino were trapping has been banned, there is no guarantee that they will not cross to Gozo to feed and end up trapped by illegal trappers.
On to reporting trapping illegalities. You have just discredited FKNK with your statement. One of the reasons why they say that a trapping derogation should be appllied, is because trapping is very easy to monitor and control. This is a prerequiste for any derogation. I wonder how you are stating that it is difficult to control now, when all forms of finch trapping is banned but the FKNK are stating that it is easy to monitor if a derogation is applied. How would you do that, Mr.Mifsud Bonnici?
I have witnessed illegal finch trapping last March as well. Infact, the same trappers that still trap in autumn do so in spring as well. Moreover, there is a higher possibilty that the finches which visit us in autumn, than spend the winter with us, stay on to breed. Also, any offspring that are wondering around the island will still be caught in autumn. So yes, autumn illegal trapping still has a direct and very negative effect on our finches.
I am no insider of Birdlife Malta, and have no knowledge as to what this campaign was about. All I know is that it was immediately sabotaged by the hunters' federation as in their own words 'trappers ony want to trap' (In-nassab jonsob irid). I assume you have read the FKNK's critique of the report.
Glenn Micallef
Aug 23rd 2012, 15:32
Well Mr.Cardona, you do have my reply to Mr.Mifsud Bonnici. It was particularly pleasing replying, espescially dismissing your ages old Comino myth. I do wonder if it is case of brainwashing or a simple inability the comprehend. But than agian, what should I expect.
Alex Ellul
Aug 22nd 2012, 15:59
"The best way to observe sparrows is to put up a bird table outside a window and within days you will start getting sparrows feeding on it, giving you the opportunity to observe them......"
Been there, done that and have learned a lot especially their intelligence. One thing for sure, each and every morning they await the scraps of left-over bread, biscuits, pasta etc,
One more thing: Why is it that they seem to disappear in the August heat?
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Aug 22nd 2012, 20:43
Sparrows can be seen on the north coast of Gozo in large numbers soon after dawn or just before sunset going to an fro the Sicilian mainland.
Fabian Borg
Aug 22nd 2012, 13:40
Another way to help the breeding of this beautiful bird is to leave ventilation vents at home unobstructed from the outside.
This will provide suitable shelter spaces for birds to build their nests.
Should we illegalise `VENTILATURI` ?
Victor Rodenas
Aug 22nd 2012, 11:26
Many years ago I noticed that near my parked car there was a very small sparrow ,it must have been very young because it could not fly ,the mother was nowhere to be seen and if I left it there it would have died of hunger or by something else, so very gently I picked it up and took it home.I dipped some bread in water and offered small pieces to it ,at once it took the bread and ate it and more and more pieces followed.I gave it some water and put it in a cage,It became my pet.I kept it in a room with the door closed but the door of the cage was always open.Whenever I entered the room with a piece of bread in my hand it flew out of the cage and landed on my hand to eat the bread and this lovely relationship continued for many years.This sparrow never sang like a sparrow but like a finch,no it was not a finch,my father reared finches so I know a thing or two about them.All the neighbours around us taught it was a finch and some wanted to see it ,they could not beleive their ears.This is my experience with a very special sparrow.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Aug 22nd 2012, 20:39
For all intents and purposes keeping a sparrow in captivity is illegal. Had you left the sparrow in the road it would have died of hunger or end up eaten by a cat. You did the right thing but try explaining that to Birdlife Malta or the police!!
Unfortunately Birdlife extremism precludes the use of common sense.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Aug 22nd 2012, 11:10
Can Mr. Portelli quantify the number of breeding finches following the ban on trapping in 2008?
His saying that trapping prevented finches from breeding locally is FALSE and only meant to discredit trapping. Finhes have always bredt "in exceptional years when a pair or two managed to build a nest undisturbed" and ALWAYS WILL.
it is no news that Birdlife Malta, of which Mr. Portelli is a member, is behind the ban on trapping. Their efforts apart from earning them 175,000 Euro in EU LIFE funds http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081028/local/eu-to-fund-campaign-against-trapping.230751 is based on deceit as this misleading letter blatantly shows.
If indeed breeding finches have multiplied since the trapping ban. Can Mr. Portelli with the help of the 3000 or so Birdlife members give us some statistics?
Glenn Micallef
Aug 23rd 2012, 07:49
Mr Mifsud Bonnici, trapping has been outlawed since 2008, but abuse is still rampant. The FKNK's press release last November is a proof of this: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111116/letters/Trappers-in-a-police-ambush.394074
Until this is controlled there will b a very limited finch population. I am sure you are aware of this, so I wonder who is being deceitful when you state that trapping has been banned, but knowing that it is still practised by many. Also, how many of the 12000 conservationist have actually reported illegal trapping? Remember the taking of protected species, being dead or alive, is still poaching. I wonder who all these law abiding hunters never saw a single trapper. Deceitful indeed.
Anthony Formosa
Aug 22nd 2012, 11:01
Mr Portelli, which ugly pastime you're referring to? I never heard of this pastime and I don't know if it's licensed nor regulated? Is it throwing rubbish also called a pastime?
After 5 years of trapping ban, do you see any finches around?
Glenn Micallef
Aug 22nd 2012, 15:23
One correction Sir. Trapping has been illegal, but this does not mean trapping has been abolished. Just to remind you how widespread it still is, and this is from your own beloved hunting federation:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111116/letters/Trappers-in-a-police-ambush.394074
Until this ends, there will be no breeding finches around, as any breeding attempts are nipped at the bud.
M. Cardona
Aug 22nd 2012, 17:38
Do you believe yourself Mr Micallef?
Glenn Micallef
Aug 23rd 2012, 07:57
Mr Cardona, do you actually believe your secretary general? Let me quote: "The trappers scattered all over those valleys for fear of being caught." Now this is just 3 valleys in the South, just imagine how many were actually out trapping all over Malta. If you do not believe him either, come next November, I will call you at the FKNK's office and will take you a location I visited last March, so you can witness the abuse yourself.
Finches breed all through the Med, from Rhodes to the East and the Balerics to the West. These islands are as hot and as dry as Malta, yet they have a sizeable finch population. What is the difference? It is only the Maltese that are obessed with imprisoning small birds as a hobby. Until this is completely abolished it will be very difficult for finches to establish themselves on this island of ours.
M. Cardona
Aug 23rd 2012, 10:13
Mr Micallef,
if establishment of a sizeable population was ever an ultimate end, why have no watering holes been catered for? Actually, the occasional finches which used to remain recurringly established themselves near a water source particularly in the vicinities of Buskett. These water sources have become increasingly scarcer due to development and over exploitation for agricultural purposes. How about that rather than live finch capturing as the primary and perennial factor leading to the lack of any established finch colonies?
Glenn Micallef
Aug 23rd 2012, 15:33
Mr.Cardona, although you raised a valid point that could help finches spread in our islands, the reality is that trapping is the most important factor that limits the distribution of finches on our Islands. That is why finches breed on all other small dry Mediterranean islands. They are as dry and as hot as our Malta, but with no trappers, so finches thrive. Drinking holes can help, but it is useless if the offspring are trapped within a few weeks of leaving the nest. There are plenty of irrigated fields and reservoirs, especially to the North and West of Malta. I have seen many reservoirs with floating wooden pallets inside, making it easier for birds to drink. I repeat, that yours is a valid point that could eventually help, and you should think about implementing in your hunting reserves. Maybe even in your private hunting grounds. You are conservationists after all, right?
Please choose the reason of your report below: