A report released by BirdLife Malta highlighted the fact that with almost half of all rare breeding species increasing their distribution and several rare species breeding on the islands for the first time in many years, 2009 has been a remarkable year for breeding birds in Malta.

The results of the "2009 Rare Breeding Bird Report" (1) showed that nine rare breeding species increased their overall distribution in the Maltese islands compared to 2008, with a further four species recorded breeding in 2009 but not recorded last year.

The highlights of the study were the first confirmed breeding records of two pairs of Common Kestrel in 15 years and the colonisation of Malta by a species new to the island – the Pallid Swift. 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 were other important breeding records.

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 Malta for very rare breeding bird records. Hear-say records, or those reported by third parties that could not be verified, were not included.

"The results highlight how important the ban on spring hunting over the last two years has been for the rare breeding species in Malta. 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. Yet, with spring hunting now banned the biggest problem for rare breeding birds arose when the rabbit hunting season opened on 1st June, (2)" said Dr Andre Raine, BirdLife Malta’s Conservation Manager.

During June and July, BirdLife Malta alone received 10 shot protected birds including some of the birds that bred in Malta this summer. A Pallid Swift in breeding condition, a juvenile Moorhen and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull (both born in 2009) were found dead with verified gunshot injuries. A Common Kestrel, a pair (male and female) of Common Cuckoo and a male Black-winged Stilt that had been carrying out courtship displays at Ghadira Nature Reserve were also shot.

"This year has seen very positive changes, with Maltese villages hosting new colonies of breeding Common Swifts, while the countryside is providing the food needed to raise young Common Kestrels. However, it is vital that a Wildlife Crime Unit is set up in Malta to provide rare birds with protection throughout the year, particularly during the breeding months in summer when these birds are particularly vulnerable to illegal hunting. " concluded Dr. Raine.

1) The "2009 Rare Breeding Bird Report" considers all breeding records for rare bird species in Malta in 2009, as recorded by BirdLife Malta ornithologists. For the purposes of this report, rare breeding bird species (excluding seabirds) are those that were recorded breeding (or showing breeding behavior) in less than 20 grid squares over the Maltese islands (based on the UTM grid system used in the Malta Breeding Bird Atlas 2008). However, for very sensitive breeding records the location has been removed in the report to protect the birds from being targeted by poachers.

2) Last May BirdLife Malta urged the government not to issue any more rabbit hunting licenses as the number of licensed rabbit hunters had soared by over 20% in the last 15 months, coinciding exactly with the first ban on spring hunting in 2008. Photos:

Photo shows a Barn Swallow feeding its young at a nest site in August. This very rare breeding species was confirmed breeding in only two map squares in Malta in 2009. Photo by Joe Sultana