More finch sightings reported last year

The number of finches sighted rose sharply in 2009, when trapping was banned, over the previous year, according to a study on bird migration.

BirdLife said the largest increases were recorded for the greenfinch, chaffinch and linnet, three species that were the most commonly caught before the trapping ban. The largest increases, it continued, were observed in the countryside in April and November, during the peak spring and autumn migration periods for the species.

In April, 800 per cent more finches were sighted in 2009 than in 2008. A big rise was also recorded in June - 380 per cent - indicating that more birds were staying over in Malta after the spring migration season, BirdLife said.

The study, by the EU LIFE+ Project, aimed at examining the impact of trapping on birds and analysed reports by ornithologists of sightings throughout last year.