News | Sunday, 28 June 2009

PRINT THIS ARTICLE

New breeding birds killed at M’skala chapel

A new breeding bird to the Maltese islands has been shot by a number of hunters off the Chapel of San Nicola of Bari in Marsaskala, not far from the Prime Minister’s residence.
In the process, the hunters shot the cross atop the chapel’s facade, causing damage to the pedament.
Another small colony of Pallid Swifts is reported to be breeding together with Common Swifts in Gozo.
Conservationists BirdLife have reported widespread decimation of breeding birds by hunters all over the islands. They have criticised the Prime Minister’s decision to allow large number of licences to be issued for rabbit hunting in the closed season, arguing that many hunters just apply for the license as an excuse to hunt birds.
On Friday BirdLife revealed footage of a dead Black-winged Stilt at the Ghadira Nature Reserve, which had been shot early on the morning of the 25 June.
BirdLife conservation manager Dr Andre Raine, who retrieved the dead bird stated, “With a ban on spring hunting over the last two years, we are finally seeing the conservation benefits of a hunting-free spring with rare birds for Malta trying to breed. However, now that the rabbit hunting season has opened, some are clearly turning their sights on the rare breeding birds.”
The Pallid Swift is a similar to a Barn Swallow or House Martin. Many birds have started to breed in Malta and Gozo since the ban on spring hunting imposed by the EU two years ago.
Swifts have very short legs which they use only for clinging to vertical surfaces, and they spend most of their lives in the air, living on the insects they catch with their beaks.
Common Swifts, which are related to Pallid Swifts, have also been noted breeding all over the island, namely by the Portomaso tower and even the Mellieha Church.
Pallid Swifts breed on cliffs and caves around the Mediterranean and on the Canary Islands and Madeira, laying two eggs. Like swallows, they are migratory birds, spending winter in southern Africa or southeast Asia.
This 16-17cm long species has a short forked tail and very long swept-back wings that resemble a crescent or a boomerang. It is entirely dark except for a large white throat patch which is frequently visible from a distance. The call is a loud dry scream similar to that of its relative.

Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below.
Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.

All the interviews from Reporter on MaltaToday's YouTube channel.

EDITORIAL

INTERVIEW