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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 11 JULY 2021
EYEWITNESS
Fly, owlet, fly
A project aimed at reintroducing
the barn owl in various
environments around the islands
of Malta and Gozo has entered
its third and final phase, as the
process for the first owlets to
be released into the wild has
commenced.
Environment minister Aaron
Farrugia attended an activity at
Razzett tal-Baghal in Buskett, a site
administered by the Federation for
Hunting and Conservation Malta
(FKNK), where an MOU to extend
the management of the site was
also signed.
This MOU will be extending the
work on various initiatives focused
on biodiversity.
As part of the reintroduction
process, barn owls are being
placed in hacking boxes to
gradually begin acclimatising to
the natural environment before
being released into the wild.
This project is supported by
the Conservation of Wild Birds
Funding Scheme for Voluntary
Organisations.
Following the success of the live
streaming of the barn owl project,
the ministry also funded the
installation of a bird-feeder and
a camera with the possibility of
live streaming, which provides the
opportunity to observe the birds
that visit Buskett.
Razzett tal-Baghal also hosts
a nursery for native trees and
shrubs, in which, so far, thousands
of trees have been planted from
seeds collected from Buskett and
the surrounding areas. These trees
are being distributed to the public
free of charge.
