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[WATCH] Herons rest in Malta before heading to Europe
On their way from Africa, herons stop in Malta before their passage into Europe
Herons and egrets at Ghadira Nature Reserve
Herons and egrets at Ghadira Nature Reserve
The birds included a number of grey herons, as well as a squacco heron and a little egret
Different heron species were observed at BirdLife Malta’s Għadira Nature Reserve over the past days.
The birds included a number of grey herons, as well as a squacco heron and a little egret.
It is currently the peak of the spring migration for herons and egrets, while raptor migration is also picking up.
Spring migration occurs between mid-March and the end of May when birds leave their wintering grounds in Africa to travel back to Europe to breed.
According to BirdLife Malta, during this mammoth migration, birds face many obstacles including the arduous journey over the Sahara desert and the Mediterranean sea. This, the conservation group said, makes the Maltese islands a crucial stop-over point on the migration route for these birds, allowing them to seek refuge and rest before continuing further north.
