Bird migration joyful to birdwatchers but hazardous to birds

A significant number of birds of prey migrated over Malta on Friday, with close to 900 being observed from Buskett alone in the afternoon.

Birdwatchers in the area said some 580 honey buzzards (kuccard), 270 marsh harriers (baghdan ahmar), 14 Montagu's harrier (baghdan griz), four ospreys (arpa) and a pallid harrier were among the birds of prey seen.

Several small falcons including kestrel (spanjulett), lesser kestrel (Spanjulett second) and hobby (seqer tal-hannieqa) were seen.

A black stork was also observed.

Three Eleonora's falcons have been shot around Buskett before the hunting season started this year and several honey buzzards and marsh harriers were also shot and two marsh harriers, an adult male and an immature male were seen at Buskett, flying with dangling broken legs yesterday morning. Some 125 birds of prey roosted at Buskett.

Illegal hunting was also reported from other areas. A marsh harrier was seen being shot at Madliena in the afternoon.

A garden at the limits of Gharghur, along the Victoria lines overlooking Qalet Marku and Bahar ic-Caghaq was teeming with shooters, even though there were many children playing and people walking dogs at the moment, an eyewitness complained.