Families urged to participate in EuroBirdwatch 2016

Environmental NGO BirdLife is holding a number of activities related to EuroBirdwatch 2016.

This year, 36 national partners of BirdLife International in Europe and Central Asia, including BirdLife Malta, invite the public to observe migratory birds and hear facts about bird migration as well as the threats they face during their journeys at the Migration Festival, which is taking place at various vantage points in Malta.

In Malta, the activities related to EuroBirdwatch 2016 started on Saturday 24 September when the Migration Festival organised by BirdLife Malta started with a birdwatching afternoon at Laferla Cross in Siġġiewi. Plenty of educational activities kept the little ones entertained during the event. The Migration Festival continued this afternoon at Tal-Bosk in Buskett with a photography exhibit, a presentation from a local nature photographer, family activities and a guided birdwatching walk through Malta’s only woodland.

The final Migration Fest events take place next Saturday, 8th October at Għadira Nature Reserve. The event is a rare opportunity to visit the reserve during the closed season. Between 10:00 and 16:00 two family exploration sessions will be held. The first guided session will take place from 10:00 to 11:30 and the second will take place from 11:30 to 13:00. Attendance is by booking only. The nature reserve will be free to visit by the public, from 13:00 onwards on that day.

A study conducted by BirdLife International and published in 2015 shows that 25 million (!) migratory birds are being caught around the Mediterranean annually. And after overcoming that huge hurdle, most birds still have to cross the unhospitable Sahara desert and other dangers along the way, twice a year. BirdLife partner organisations in the countries involved are making it their top priority to combat this useless killing for which there is no excuse.

For the migrating bird species the existence of suitable breeding areas in the north, saving stopover sites and a safe passage on the flyway, and appropriate habitats in the wintering regions are therefore vitally important. The aim of EuroBirdwatch 2016 is to raise awareness for the wonders of bird migration and the needs of the migratory birds on the breeding areas, the flyways and in the wintering areas in the Mediterranean and in Africa.

The EuroBirdwatch is an annual event comprising hundreds of nationally organised activities. On these observation posts the number of birds and participating people are counted and reported via the national centres to the European centre. Last year, 41 countries in Europe and Central Asia took part in organising 1,093 events, with more than 32,000 people turning out to watch and help count the birds, of which more than 5 million individuals were observed!

In 2016 the event is coordinated by BirdLife Switzerland