A rare Egyptian vulture from a conservation reintroduction programme in Italy, spent last night in Malta guarded by Birdlife and the police.

Born in captivity on June 17, Tobia was released into the wild in Calabria earlier this month.

He is satellite tagged and all his moves are tracked.

Tobia left Calabria on September 18 and arrived on Malta yesterday afternoon.

Birdlife birdwatchers spotted the bird and spent all night guarding it alongside the police.

Tobia's mother Patricia hatched from an egg which had been stolen from a nest in Turkey and smuggled into Italy where it was seized by the Italian authorities.

Birdlife invited the public to watch migrating birds and learn more about their journeys at its upcoming ‘Migration Fest’ events.

The next events are on Sunday at 4pm at the Laferla Cross and October 4 at the Għadira Nature Reserve. More information from events@birdlifemalta.org.

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