How bird-ringing maps the travels of winged creatures

Birdlife Malta licenced ringer Nicholas Galea has much to be pleased about when he ringed the first Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus (‘Primavera’ in Maltese) at Buskett on the 20 December. This was a very fitting way for the end of the 50th anniversary of the BirdLife Malta Ringing Scheme.

“Such records are just the cherry on the cake since the ringing activity is much more rewarding when one keeps in mind that the scientific data collected helps us understand birds even more,” Nicholas. Galea commented.

Galea is one of the 24 licenced ringers within BirdLife Malta and during this year it is estimated that over ten thousand birds would be ringed.

This data is logged and shared worldwide. Apart from trends in migration, breeding success, and population studies some outstanding facts occur every year. This year Malta had a visit by a shorebird, Dunlin Calidris Alpine (‘Pispisella tad-Dabra’), with a ring from Ukraine. The journey’s distance in itself is incredible but the fact that it was ringed in Ukraine only four days before it was sighted in Malta makes it even more amazing. Another interesting record for this year was the recapture of a European Storm-Petrel Hydrobates Pelagicus (‘Kangu ta Filfla’ in Maltese) with a 26- year-old ring.

BirdLife Malta strives to protect birds and their natural habitat and it understands that the scientific knowledge puts it in a strong position to reach its mission.