BirdLife Malta

17/06/2026

🦅 Want to gain hands-on experience in wildlife rehabilitation and conservation?

BirdLife Malta is seeking a Rehabilitation Assistant through the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programme for a 12-month volunteering opportunity starting in August 2026.

This exciting role offers practical experience in rescuing, caring for and rehabilitating injured wild birds, assisting with wildlife emergencies, managing rehabilitation data, and creating content to raise awareness about Malta’s birds and the challenges they face.

The position is open to applicants aged 18–30 from eligible ESC countries and includes accommodation, travel reimbursement, insurance and a monthly allowance.

📅 Application deadline: 10 July 2026

For full details, eligibility criteria and application information, visit:
https://birdlifemalta.org/about/jobs/

17/06/2026

How do Scopoli’s Shearwaters prepare for breeding? A new study has revealed previously unknown pre-laying journeys undertaken by these remarkable seabirds before returning to Malta’s colonies. The findings were made possible through data collected under two BirdLife Malta-led seabird LIFE projects, highlighting the value of long-term monitoring and research. 🐦🌊

BirdLife Malta has been studying Malta’s seabirds for decades, building knowledge that helps improve conservation and raise awareness about these species, which continue to face threats such as light pollution, bycatch, habitat disturbance and introduced predators. We are proud to see data collected through our work contributing to a better understanding of these fascinating birds.

Read more 👉 https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2026-06-17/local-news/Study-reveals-secret-pre-laying-journeys-of-Scopoli-s-Shearwaters-6736290582

A study by Maltese researchers has shed new light on the little-known pre-laying behaviour of Scopoli’s Shearwaters, revealing that the seabirds undertake lengthy journeys across the Mediterranean before returning to nest on the Maltese Islands.

Link in first comment

14/06/2026

Meet Simone Brunori, our EUPA Malta - Erasmus+ & European Solidarity Corps volunteer from Rome and BirdLife Malta's audiovisual assistant! 🌿

What is his connection with nature? Which bird is his favourite? And what has he learned since joining BirdLife Malta?

Watch the reel to hear about his experiences, his passion for wildlife, and what makes volunteering with BirdLife Malta so rewarding. 🐦

Footage: Antonia Micallef and Simone Brunori
Editing: Simone Brunori

12/06/2026

🌿 Summer Nature Guardians 2026 is fully booked! 🌿

Thank you to all the families who registered - we can’t wait to begin this new adventure together! A special thank you to Project Green, our sponsors, for making this edition possible and more accessible.

If you are still interested in joining Nature Guardians, don’t worry - you can still register your interest for upcoming editions.

Please fill in this form: Nature Guardians Course 👇 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdsIfehaAd58_7fF3qtZwjPnQ2YRJihBPZ6X-xvQBMHEvoMuA/viewform

Places are limited for each edition, so registering your interest early helps us plan better and keep you informed.

💚 Explore. Learn. Protect.

12/06/2026

Rats and mice have historically colonised European islands, through trade and migration. Once introduced, these mammals have the ability to establish themselves very quickly, since they feed opportunistically, and are highly prolific breeders. They are skilled swimmers and climbers, making them a significant threat to birds, found even in remote habitats.

To track their presence, our Seabird Team uses several monitoring methods, including non-toxic flavoured wax blocks. These blocks are essentially made up of wax and an ingredient (such as peanut butter or chocolate) that lures the rats to eat them, but does not affect them. Rodents leave behind distinctive bite marks on these blocks in the form of deep, parallel grooves, that help us tell them apart from other animals like beetles or snails. Once these bite marks are found, the team is able to confirm their presence, allowing us to plan targeted biosecurity interventions.

10/06/2026

🇲🇹 Bejn nofs Mejju u l-bidu ta’ Ġunju, it-tim tal-konservazzjoni tagħna wettaq ħidma f’Għawdex. Waqt tliet żjarat, irrapporta sitt (6) imnasab li kienu attivi bix-xbieki mifruxin mal-art.

Ħamsa minn dawn is-siti kellhom għadajjar kbar biex jintasbu għasafar tal-plajja. Is-sit l-ieħor kellu xbieki mifruxin fuq art b’sejjieħ ma’ tul nofs il-mansab, setup tipiku għall-insib tal-Gamiem.

Inċidentalment, dan l-insib kien qed isir ġranet biss wara li federazzjoni ta’ kaċċaturi, f'wieħed mill-eżerċizzji tagħha ta’ greenwashing, ħarrbet diversi gamiem mrobbija fil-magħluq bħala ‘miżura ta’ kumpens’.

Il-Pulizija ta’ Għawdex żarmaw dawn is-siti, u waqt wieħed mir-rapporti li għamilna, il-pulizija sabu wkoll nassab fuq il-post. Għaldaqstant, se jittieħdu passi legali fil-Qorti kontra dan l-individwu.

Bis-sajf fuq l-għatba, nistennew żieda fin-numru ta’ għasafar tal-plajja li jpassu minn Malta u Għawdex. Dawn l-għasafar protetti ikunu fil-mira kemm tan-nassaba kif ukoll ta’ kaċċaturi li jġibu l-iskuża tal-istaġun miftuħ tal-kaċċa tal-fenek biex joħorġu barra bis-senter. Matul is-sajf m’hemmx staġun miftuħ tal-insib u għalhekk kwalunkwe xbieki mifruxin mal-art għandhom jiġu rrappurtati lill-awtoritajiet biex jitneħħew.

Jekk tkun fil-kampanja u tinnota apparat elettroniku li jxandar għajjat kontinwu u ripetittiv ta’ għasafar, kaċċaturi f’żoni fejn ma ssibx fniek, bħal qrib il-kosta, jew tara mnasab bi xbieki mifruxin, jekk jogħġbok irrapportahom lilna fuq 2134 7645 jew 7925 5697. Tista’ wkoll tibgħatilna ritratti jew recordings tal-għajjat elettroniku, flimkien mal-lokazzjoni, permezz ta’ Facebook Messenger. Kull każ li jeħtieġ azzjoni immedjata għandu jiġi rrappurtat direttament lill-EPU (119) jew lill-Pulizija ta’ Għawdex (2156 2040).

🇬🇧 Between mid-May and early June, our Conservation team have been conducting fieldwork in Gozo. During a total of three visits, they reported six (6) active trapping sites which were seen with nets laid on the ground.

Five of the sites had large hunting ponds on site, targeting waders. The other site had nets laid with a central rocky outcrop, typically a setup targeting Turtle-doves.

Incidentally such trapping was intercepted just a few days after a hunting federation’s greenwashing exercise at releasing captive-bred Turtle-doves as a form of ‘compensatory measure’. The sites were dismantled by Gozo Police, and during one of our reports, officers also found a trapper on site, so court action will be initiated against this individual in due course.

With the summer months ahead of us, we can expect to see an increase in the numbers of waders passing through Malta and Gozo. These birds are illegally targeted by both trappers and hunters who use the excuse of the open rabbit hunting season to be out with a shotgun. No trapping season is open during the summer, so any clap nets seen on the ground can be reported and removed by the authorities.

If you are out in the countryside and notice any electronic callers, hunters in unexpected areas for rabbits (such as by the coast) or see nets on trapping sites, please report these to us on 2134 7645 or 7925 5697. You can also send us photos or sound recordings to us on Facebook Messenger. Anything that needs immediate action should be reported directly to EPU (119) or Gozo Police (2156 2040)’

09/06/2026

🌿 The Nature Guardians Spring 2026 course has come to an end! 🌿

On 6 June, after 12 weeks of adventures, discoveries, muddy shoes, new friendships and countless questions about nature, our Spring 2026 Nature Guardians officially graduated! 🎓🐦

Together, we explored nature reserves and Project Green parks across Malta, searched for wildlife, learned about conservation, carried out hands-on activities, and discovered that nature can be found everywhere if you know where to look.

This group impressed us with their curiosity, teamwork, creativity and passion for protecting the environment. We watched them grow in confidence, support one another, and become true ambassadors for nature.

A special thank you to Project Green for supporting this edition of the programme and helping us make nature education accessible to more families.

💚 But graduation is not the end! Our young guardians now become part of the Nature Guardians Alumni Community, where the adventure continues through free monthly events, conservation activities, outings and workshops.

📢 Interested in joining the next course?

Bookings for the Summer 2026 course and pre-registrations for the Autumn 2026 edition are now open 👉 https://birdlifemalta.org/environmental-education/family-youth/nature-guardians/

🌱 Once a Nature Guardian, always a Nature Guardian.

08/06/2026

🦅 Looking to kick-start your career in conservation?

BirdLife Malta is seeking a Conservation Assistant through the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programme for a 12-month volunteering opportunity starting in September 2026.

This unique opportunity offers hands-on experience in bird conservation, wildlife crime monitoring, bird rescue and rehabilitation, fieldwork, data management and research during one of the most important periods for bird migration in the Mediterranean.

The position is open to applicants aged 18–30 from eligible ESC countries and includes accommodation, travel reimbursement, insurance and a monthly allowance.

📅 Application deadline: 3 July 2026

For full details, eligibility criteria and application information, visit:
https://birdlifemalta.org/about/jobs/

08/06/2026

Common cuckoos camouflage their eggs 🥚 to resemble those of smaller birds 🐦 in order to shift the burden of raising their young onto the parents of other avian species.

Cuckoo eggs and chicks are often much larger than those of the host species and compete more effectively for food, causing the other chicks to starve to death and sometimes even evicting or killing them outright 😱.

The host species’ reproductive success is thus reduced, and over time, it evolves to recognise cuckoo eggs and reject them.

This is a classic example of what is known in biology as an “arms race” between species, with cuckoos trying their best to imitate the host’s eggs and hosts evolving to recognise them.

Post prepared by Silvia Viviani.

07/06/2026

🐦🌿 Yesterday, BirdLife Malta held the final session of this spring’s Nature Guardians course.

During the event, the children learned more about what is happening in Vjosa-Narta and why people in Albania are protesting against development that threatens these important natural areas.

💚 The children shared their thoughts and emotions, discussed the importance of environmental impact assessments, and explored how people can come together to protect nature and give it a voice.

✊ To conclude the session, they created posters and placards and symbolically joined the protests in Albania.

Nature Guardians and BirdLife Malta stand in solidarity with Protection and Preservation of Natural Environment in Albania, AOS-Albanian Ornithological Society and the people of Albania in their efforts to protect their natural heritage.

🎥 Footage: Vera Tokamakova
🎬 Editing: Antonia Micallef