Malta spring Birdwatch protecting migratory birds

Spring migration brought this large flock of long legged waders to roost in the Gnejna area. Malta is an important resting spot for waders like these Black Winged Stilts, and other migratory species. Photo by Ray Galea.

April 2009. BirdLife Malta will be joined by 52 international ornithologists and volunteers from 8 different countries in its second ever Spring Watch camp.

The international Spring Watch participants will be joined by Maltese bird watchers in monitoring and recording spring migration, as well as reporting illegal hunting and trapping incidents to the police. Morning watches, evening watches, and in the event of a large roost developing, night watches will also be organized.

Major migration route
Malta is on one of the three main migratory flyways used by birds to travel between their African wintering grounds and European breeding grounds. During spring, those birds which have survived the previous migration and the wintering period in Africa travel thousands of kilometers to return to breed in Europe. The birds are particularly vulnerable during this period and must overcome obstacles like deserts, mountains, the sea, predation and lack of food to mention but a few threats. Protecting the birds on their spring migration is important as these birds are the survivors of the bird world and form the stock from which future generations of birds arise.

Spring Watch 09 is one of several activities being organized internationally as part of BirdLife International's Flyways Campaign. As part of the campaign BirdLife partners from 70 European, African and Middle Eastern countries will be focusing on protecting migratory birds along the African-Eurasian flyway for the coming 4 years.

These Squacco Herons roosted in Marsa Sports club. The Squacco Heron is a species which is declining in Europe, highlighting the importance of protecting it during migration in countries like Malta which is on one of the three main migratory flyways used by migratory birds. Photo by Aaron Tanti.

Hunting ban
"The spring hunting ban is definitely playing a role, not only in protecting birds as they migrate to their European breeding grounds just before the breeding season, but also in providing Malta with the opportunity to establish itself as a potential bird watching destination." concluded Temuge.

The camp with participants from Malta, Italy, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Australia and Belgium runs until the 26th of April with teams carrying out monitoring from public vantage points in several localities in Malta and Gozo.