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13 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 26 JUNE 2019 CULTURE 2019 has been a good year for breeding birds in Malta so far with a number of different spe- cies recorded breeding suc- cessfully both at BirdLife Mal- ta's nature reserves and also in different areas around the Mal- tese Islands. Malta's reserves provide vi- tal habitats offering not only rich food sources for breed- ing birds and their young, but also shelter and protection from habitat destruction and human disturbance. At Għadira Nature Reserve, undoubtedly the flagship breeding species remains the Black-winged Stilt. Ear- lier this month two pairs of Black-winged Stilts success- fully hatched four young each and the adult birds could be observed protecting their fledglings in their distinct way of chasing any other birds they deem as a threat to their chicks, even those much big- ger in size. These elegant birds have been breeding – on and off – at the Mellieħa reserve, for the last nine years since 2011. After missing last year's spring, this year's double suc- cess with eight healthy chicks is is a welcome relief. Għadira has also been home to another continuing suc- cess with Little Ringed Plov- ers. Two pairs have success- fully bred this spring, each of them raising three young respectively. More chicks are expected with a second clutch of eggs currently un- der incubation. Little Ringed Plovers first bred at Għadira in 1995. Whilst the nature reserves are normally closed to the public in the otherwise quiet summer months, BirdLife Malta feels that it should share the wonderful nature spectacle of these newly- formed families during a special open day, to be be held this coming Saturday 29 June 2019. Ghadira will be open between 7am and 10am with free entrance and no booking needed. BirdLife Malta staff will be on site to explain about the species breeding at the re- serve and show the public around the reserve. The reserves have also hosted other bird families over the past weeks and months which included nests of Sardinian and Cetti's War- blers, Moorhens, Tree Spar- rows and Collared Doves. Salina Nature Reserve, which is still undergoing restoration works after it was handed over to BirdLife Malta, has seen a pair of Moorhens that nested twice successfully as early as January. Tree Spar- rows and Spanish Sparrows have readily taken the salt pan walls and available nest boxes, while the reserve also hosted its fair share of warblers: Sar- dinian, Cetti's Warbler, and Zitting Cisticola. Birds of prey recorded on all three main islands 2019 has also seen some re- markable records for breed- ing birds of prey on all three main islands (Malta, Gozo and Comino), showing the great potential our islands could offer for the comeback of a number of graceful spe- cies. The Peregrine Falcon has been noted breeding again along Malta's southern cliffs with young birds seen in flight in mid-May. Common Kestrels have also bred in two different loca- tions in Gozo, with fledged young being noted during the first week of June. A pair of Short-eared Owl bred successfully again on Comino with the fledged young seen on the 14th of May, in what is a successful second breeding record in re- cent years. Other birds making records The Barn Swallow has this year had a record breeding success on Gozo where bird- watchers have observed at least 32 breeding pairs in dif- ferent villages, all of which are being monitored on a reg- ular basis. The breeding sites are in Xewkija, Ta' Kerċem, Għarb, Ta' Sannat, Għasri, Nadur and Victoria. Another important success- ful breeding attempt recorded this year was that of a female Spotless Starling with a male Common Starling (Sturnell) that chose Comino as their home. Spotless Starling is a ra- re bird on the Maltese Islands with the last record being a bird sighted in October 1947. Various birds associated with water bodies have also made the most of this year's abundant rainfall – Għajn Riħana and Chadwick Lakes have seen good numbers of Reed Warblers and Moor- hens showing a dire need for protection of these rich bio- diverse areas which are still impacted by hunting. If des- ignated as bird sanctuaries, these areas could offer fur- ther breeding successes such as Little Bittern and other crakes. All these sightings and re- cords represent a lot of hard work carried out by field or- nithologists and birders from BirdLife Malta that spend many hours in the field taking notes of such discoveries. Nature takes its course if it is undisturbed Commenting on this year's breeding season, BirdLife Malta Conservation Manager Nicholas Barbara stated that wherever left undisturbed, nature takes its course, and these breeding records are testimony to that. He added that proper man- agement of Natura 2000 sites (such as through allocating the management of such sites to NGOs), the designation of bird sanctuaries where no hunting is allowed, and prop- er law enforcement of hunt- ing illegalities remain key to allowing such successes to be repeated in future years. Nonetheless education and awareness among the public remain essential to appreciate these successes. On the same lines, BirdLife Malta Nature Reserves Man- ager Mark Gauci said that all this goes to demonstrate that given the right habitat and given adequate protection, birds will breed in Malta and the nature reserves managed by BirdLife Malta have been proving this year in year out. Breeding success rates can only be boosted if the govern- ment truly understands what conservation values really stand for. The most logical way in which to ensure birds con- tinue to breed unhindered in Malta, and to increase their numbers, is to safeguard their breeding habitats and to make sure that they are protected during the breeding season. A good year so far for Malta's breeding birds Special open day at Għadira Nature Reserve for the public to see the newly-hatched Black-winged Stilts Black-winged Stilts at Ghadira Nature Reserve • Photo by Aron Tanti Fledged young Short-eared Owl on Comino • Photo by Michael Zerafa

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