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More breeding birds for Malta - protection pays dividends
Field ornithologist Ray Galea has discovered a pair of Tawny Pipits breeding on the barren rocks of what is supposed to be the National Park of Xaghra l-Hamra in the north of Malta.
The area had been earmarked for a mega Golf course but was then converted into a National Park. However, no steps have been taken to protect the area from hunting. But the limitation of hunting and a ban on trapping has started to pay its dividends. This is the first confirmed nesting of the Tawny Pipits, though earlier sightings indicated that it bred on single occasions.
Birdlife has always argued that a ban on spring hunting will serve to increase bird species to Malta and to the list of breeding species. In fact this year has been an exceptionally good year, with the Black winged Stilt breeding at Ghadira. A bird which is highly prized by Maltese hunters.
Larger birds such as falcons which have attempted breed have been shot down by indiscriminate hunters. But if given the chance Malta and Gozo could attract sizeable numbers of large breeding birds.
Illegal hunting and trapping is still rampant in Malta and Gozo but the government is under increasing pressure from the EU to regulate poaching and bring Malta into line.
Luke Camilleri •
Just do not make it a last!
Raymond Falzon •
This is not a first. Just because a birder saw them for his very first time does'nt make it a first. We see many of such nests in our HUNTING land at Bahrija.
•
Can you please decide between hunting and poaching. You mention indiscriminate hunters when you should have used poachers, and you write the government is under increasing pressure from the EU to regulate poaching.
