Bad farming practices, habitat loss and climate change are contributing to mass bird decline. However, in many corners of the world, we are witnessing a birding revolution. With 50 million birders in the US and six million in the UK, it’s a fast-growing hobby. Should locals give it a try, asks Rachel Baldacchino.

Flamingo at Salina. Photo: Tim Micallef

It’s doctor’s orders plain and simple, and a good dose of David Attenborough. Constant exposure to crowded spaces is bad news. Prozac nations and stressed subjects are looking for options and shopping doesn’t work.

Going for long walks with a pair of binoculars and a solid field guide does, however. Before you know it, you’re nature’s true detective, spotter sheet in hand, naming and listing: a citizen scientist with a sound heart and lower cholesterol counts.

Natural landscapes elicit positive feelings and if that’s too much of a stretch, rest your eyes on a neighbouring satellite dish and listen for birds. Birdsong is stochastic and good for you, says audio expert Julian Treasure in Sound Business. Chirping follows no repeated rhythm or pattern, hence you’ll be sitting still, body relaxed and mind alert, enjoying without falling numb.

Not fit for yoga? Sit in your backyard at the dawn chorus, breathe in and out and energise. If along the way you pay a membership to help support bird conservation efforts, you’re definitely on the right track. Besides if Paul McCartney does it, so should anyone.

There are 10,500 bird species in the world and some 379 of them grace the Maltese islands at some point or other. Across a total surface area of 316km², this is not bad at all.

“Get out there and watch birds,” says Birdlife Malta’s press officer Rupert Masefield. “There are lots of great places to see birds in Malta and what you can see changes throughout the year, depending on the season. There are also many birds that can be seen in built-up urban areas, including swifts, starlings and Sardinian Warblers. It’s not just sparrows and pigeons, as everyone thinks. Meeting other birders is the best way to get started and there are plenty of birdwatchers in Malta who are happy to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with novices.”

Places like Dingli Cliffs, Laferla Cross in Siġġiewi, most of the west coast and a lot of the Maltese countryside are where birders should be. Spring and autumn are ideal for spotting, as it’s when birds are almost anywhere and the weather is kind. This is also when Birdlife Malta holds Spring Watch and Raptor Camp, rigorous conservation camps at hunting hotspots where staff and volunteers gather data on bird migration and species and record evidence of illegal hunting and trapping. These camps are also an opportunity to enjoy birdsong and nature.

“Of course, we are out there to make sure that birds migrate safely over the islands, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy watching them as well,” explains Masefield. “There’s nothing quite like seeing dozens of Marsh Harriers floating up from their roost before the break of dawn. It’s a very beautiful and moving sight, all the more so knowing the danger these birds still face in Malta.”

You don’t need to be a bird boffin to volunteer. Bright t-shirts are a must, though. You’ll also need telescopes to keep a close look on the birds and video cameras to record illegalities. Birdlife Malta sees to all the equipment.

Whether it’s leisure birding or intense guarding, the ethics to follow are the same: safe distances so as not to disturb the birds in their natural habitat and respect of law at all times, including respect of private property.

“We are not in the vigilante business,” says Masefield. “We help ensure that birds protected by law are also protected in practice and that involves working closely with the police and other authorities. At no point do volunteers intervene themselves, and training in avoiding any possible direct confrontation is a key part of the camps.”

Those willing to give summer birding a try need not hold back. Summer sees a degree of migration too, explains Masefield.

“Some species, like many waders, are already on the move. You also have a number of seabirds present along the coasts and it’s a good time to get out and spot Malta’s breeding birds. These may be limited to a couple of dozen species, but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable to go to those parts of the islands where they breed and observe their behaviour.”

A birding binge is for the early hours of the morning or late afternoons. Those who prefer birding in a structure can join BirdLife Malta or Majjistral Park’s boat trips to seabird colonies, birding walks with assigned guides or photography and bird identification workshops. It’s also good to be on the lookout for future bird-guarding alerts like the one issued by Birdlife Malta for the Greater Flamingo spotted at the Salina saltpans a few weeks ago.

Picture this, the sun is setting in the distance, it’s warm and you’re lying on your hammock sipping ice tea and getting your fair share of ornitherapy. All is roses given the flamingo stays safe, and it’s all in your hands.

To find out more about birdwatching and guarding activities organised by BirdLife Malta, e-mail events@birdlifemalta.org and ask to be added to the events newsletter, or visit Birdlife Malta Facebook pages. To volunteer at a bird guard send an e-mail to christian.debono@birdlifemalta.org, or call Birdlife Malta offices on 2134 7644/5/6.