A pair of Common Kestrels has successfully bred and raised at least three chicks in Malta, the first confirmed successful attempt in 15 years, Birdlife said yesterday.

The ornithological organisation released photos and footage showing two of the chicks at the nest, stretching their wings in preparation for their first flight.

Birdlife said this was the first confirmed successful breeding of a bird of prey recorded in Malta since 1994 when a pair of kestrels bred at the Comino bird sanctuary.

However, the male partner of the breeding pair was yesterday seen with gunshot injuries to the wing. Birdlife's fieldworkers, who have been observing the pair in recent weeks, recorded shots fired at the male of the pair as it was hunting for food in nearby fields.

Last year, the first time spring hunting was banned, several breeding attempts by kestrels in different locations in Gozo and Malta were recorded but the birds were shot each time, Birdlife said.

"As a result of the spring hunting ban, many more wild birds migrating over Malta are surviving to continue their journey to European breeding grounds while, as expected, some are remaining to breed here," Birdlife Malta conservation manager Andre Raine said.

"The birds that have survived illegal hunting during the closed season this spring and managed to settle into their breeding grounds, thanks to the efforts of the police, are now facing another threat. With the opening of the rabbit hunting season on June 1, poachers are taking advantage of this loophole to illegally shoot Malta's rare breeding birds," Dr Raine said.

Birdlife called on the Office of the Prime Minister and the Police Commissioner not to issue any more rabbit hunting licences and urged a bigger police presence in the countryside throughout the breeding period.

To see a video clip of the kestrel chicks visit www.birdlifemalta.org.