Several rare bird species were seen breeding for the first time in a long while and almost half of all species increased their distribution this year, according to a BirdLife Malta report.

The report concluded that 2009 was a "remarkable year" for breeding birds in Malta and this highlighted how important the hunting ban over the last two years had been.

"Although illegal hunting was widespread, especially in the south during spring migration, the hunting intensity was much lower over this period due to the ban," a BirdLife spokesman said.

According to the study, two pairs of Common Kestrel bred for the first time in 15 years. There was also the colonisation of the Pallid Swift, a species new to the island.

This year also saw the first confirmed breeding record of a pair of Grey Wagtail in almost 100 years and only the fourth confirmed breeding record of a pair of Common Cuckoo.

The 2009 Rare Breeding Bird Report showed nine rare breeding species increased their overall distribution compared to last year, while a further four species recorded breeding in 2009 but not last year.

However, BirdLife warned the biggest problem for rare breeding birds arose during the rabbit hunting season which opened on June 1.

Last May BirdLife urged the government not to issue any more rabbit hunting licences as the number of licensed rabbit hunters had soared by more than 20 per cent in the last 15 months, coinciding with the first ban on spring hunting in 2008.

"This year has seen very positive changes, with villages hosting new colonies of breeding Common Swifts, while the countryside is providing the food needed to raise young Common Kestrels."

However, BirdLife reiterated its call for a Wildlife Crime Unit to be set up to provide rare birds protection throughout the year, particularly during the breeding months in summer when these birds were particularly vulnerable to illegal hunting.

During June and July, Birdife said it received 10 shot protected birds.

The report includes all rare breeding bird records that adhered to the strict criteria laid out by the European Bird Census Council and the criteria laid out by BirdLife for very rare breeding bird records.

"Hearsay records, or those reported by third parties that could not be verified, were not included," BirdLife said.