The number of finches (Għasafar tal-għana) recorded in the Maltese countryside increased dramatically in the first year of the trapping ban in 2009, compared to 2008 when finch trapping was still permitted, BirdLife said today.

It said that a study by the EU LIFE+ Project on bird migration and trapping showed that in 2009 all the finch species were seen more frequently and in larger numbers than in 2008. The largest increases were recorded for Greenfinch (Verdun), Chaffinch (Sponsun), and Linnet (Ġojjin), with Greenfinch increasing by over 300 percent. These three species were generally the most commonly caught finches before the trapping ban.

Five of the seven species increasing by over 100 percent each, and increases for all the finch species were noted in every month of 2009 over 2008, except for January where the count was almost identical.

The largest percentage increases were observed in April and November during the peak spring and autumn migration periods for these species. In April over 800 percent more finches were sighted in 2009 than in 2008, for all the species combined. The percentage increase in finches recorded in June stood at a high 380 percent, indicating that more birds were staying over in Malta after the spring migration season.

Furthermore, the ornithologists carrying out breeding bird surveys last year recorded Chaffinch (Sponsun) and Linnet (Ġojjin) as confirmed breeding, and Greenfinch (Verdun) and Serin (Apparell) as probable breeding, following the methodology set by the European Bird Census Council.

Geoffrey Saliba, BirdLife Malta Campaigns Coordinator said; "The increases in the number of finches seen last year and the confirmed breeding of two species of finch show that given the chance, these birds could also breed in the Maltese islands. Finches are common breeders in Europe and they also breed on other small central Mediterranean islands."