A bald ibis, a bird that had not been previously recorded in Malta, was spotted at Ta' Qali training grounds this afternoon.
The bird sported two large rings, one of them with the numbers 015. Ornithologist Natalino Fenech immediately contacted ornithologists in Italy, where the breed was recently reintroduced after having been driven to extinction there.
It was established that this bird hatched at Fagnana Udine and flew from Northern Italy to Calabria a few weeks ago.
"A number of birds were bred in the wild on aviaries as part of a reintroduction program. This is one of them. 15 were in Calabria until recently and some went to Gela. This bird has shown that the migratory instinct in some species remains so strong, even when reared by humans," Dr Fenech said.
It is now under the watchful eyes of onlookers and the police.
St Hubert's Hunters Association said it trusts that while the bird is observed at a distance without disturbance, it will continue its journey southwards.
The hunters' federation (FKNK) said this Northern Bald Ibis was captive-bred because it was critically endangered in the wild according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. is one of fifteen such birds from a project undertaken in Fagagna, Northern Italy, and the project's first bird to migrate. The released birds, which are satellite tagged, have travelled to Gela and Calabria, and thus more birds may visit the Maltese islands in the coming days.
It is one of 15 such birds from a project undertaken in Fagagna, Northern Italy, and the project's first bird to migrate. The released birds, which are satellite tagged, have travelled to Gela and Calabria, and thus more birds may visit the Maltese islands in the coming days.
The FKNK observed that some of its members were keeping an eye on the bird and urged them to keep up the good work as further evidence of their continuous wildlife conservation contribution.
"Moreover, the success story of the Fagagna project further supports the FKNK's ongoing turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur) captive-breeding and release project, since it is again apparent that the migration instinct in captive-bred birds is not lost," it said.
Photo by Mark Zammit Cordina.
The bird's journey so far.