Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1490058
11 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 15 JANUARY 2023 Co-funded by the European Union Vacancy PROJECT COORDINATOR (Jobsplus Permit No: 686/2022) A vacancy for the post of Project Coordinator has arisen within NCPE, the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality, as part of the project 101083556 Strengthening Knowledge on Integration and Non- Discrimination (SKIN). This post is equivalent to Public Service Salary Scale 7. The selected candidate will be expected to enter into a full-time definite contract (expiring in October 2024). Visit the NCPE's website to read the job description: https://ncpe.gov.mt/en/Pages/Vacancies.aspx Interested persons should send their application together with a detailed CV to the Executive Director via email on equality@gov.mt by not later than Friday 27th January 2023. Late submissions will not be considered. NCPE Gattard House, National Road, Blata l-Bajda ĦMR 9010 Tel: 2276 8200 E-mail: equality@gov.mt Web: www.ncpe.gov.mt Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme 2021-2027 Project part-financed by the European Union Co-financing rate: 90% EU funds; 10% National Funds JAMES DEBONO THE lowest number of feral pigeons is found in modern suburbs, a factor enhanced by the modern architecture that abounds in these areas, accord- ing to a first-of-its-kind statis- tical survey based on pigeon counts. The Maltese study published in science journal Xjenza shows that "the abundance of feral pigeons is mostly affected by architecture: abundance was low where there was a prepon- derance of modern buildings." Statistician Fiona Sammut and biologists Cassandra Borg Muscat and Patrick J. Schem- bri identified factors that in- fluenced the abundance and distribution of feral pigeons, the Columba livia, in urban environments in Malta. The pigeons were censused using transect surveys in different types of urban environments, such as agricultural enclaves in urban areas, main roads, parks, side streets and suburbs. The highest number of pi- geon clusters were found in areas categorised as 'park', followed by the 'main road', 'agricultural area', 'side street' and 'suburb', in this order. The highest abundance of individu- al pigeons was found in 'main road' followed by 'park', 'side street', 'agricultural area' and 'suburb' in this order. And the highest density of feral pigeons was found in 'park' followed by 'main road', 'agricultural area', 'side street' and 'suburb'. So the abundance of feral pi- geons, the study concluded, is mostly affected by the presence of modern buildings with low abundance of pigeons found in areas where there is a prepon- derance of modern buildings. The higher density of feral pigeons in 'parks' rather than in the 'main road' is because public open spaces accounted for just 0.3 square kilometres whilst the main road spread for 1.24sq.km, and this on a total studied area of 4.5sq.km. So the preference for public open spaces within towns, rather than local centres, was "very likely a result of the calmer am- biance present in a park" where the pigeons have more "feeding opportunities and less stress." The study confirms the re- sults of international studies which indicate that the dens- est populations of feral pigeons occur in historic town centres, as the old buildings provide ample nesting sites, while the high human population den- sity of both locals and tourists in historic towns provides con- stant food sources. The most recent pigeon sur- vey in Malta, carried out be- tween 1998 and 2000, estimat- ed about 1,500 to 2,500 pairs in the Maltese islands, the major- ity concentrated in the Valletta harbour's urban areas. But there is also evidence that the feral pigeon population is expanding to surrounding lo- calities Marsa, Ħamrun, Bla- ta il-Bajda, Gżira and Sliema. Now they have also colonised the St Vincent De Paul (Luqa) and St Luke's (Gwardamangia) hospital complexes. And sub- stantial separate populations were noted at Balzan and on the island of Comino. However, in the rest of the Maltese islands, including Gozo, the bird is only sparsely distributed. The study was carried out in three towns in each of the five Maltese districts between May 2020 and August 2020 dur- ing weekdays, from 8am until 12pm. A transect of 300m was walked, first in one direction on one side of the road, and then in the opposite one: if pi- geons were noted at any point, the transect was walked again using the same procedure, to count pigeons on either side. The highest abundance of feral pigeons was found in the northern harbour districts which includes major old ur- ban centres including Valletta, St Julian's and Msida, followed by the southern harbour – Cot- tonera – and then the south- east, the west and the north, in that order. This study may contribute to a tailor-made and economical scientific management plan for controlling feral pigeons in ur- ban settings, say the authors: "This study lays the ground for further research on feral pigeon populations and their ecology in urban environments as well as contributing information for management programmes that are tailor-made to the local sit- uation and circumstances." jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Statisticians and biologists find abundance of feral pigeons has been affected by architectural styles Who hates modern architecture? Pigeons, scientists say Ar-coooo-tecture!