Over 820 Cranes (Graw) in various flocks were observed migrating over Malta last Sunday, a record for a single day, BirdLife Malta said. The Crane migration continued yesterday with over 160 Cranes seen flying over the south of Malta in the morning.

BirdLife said it received several reports of illegal shooting on these protected birds as they flew low in the Fawwara area. Cranes are protected under Annex I of the Birds Directive. The police were informed of the shooting.

Cranes are large birds which migrate from Europe to Africa every autumn to avoid the cold and lack of food of European winters.

During their long journeys Cranes rely on thermals of hot air rising from land mass to save energy while flying. These birds spend more energy in flight over the sea as there are no thermals rising from large bodies of water. This makes the Maltese islands important places where migratory birds can catch thermals, rest and refuel before they continue their journeys.