The Breeding Birds of Malta

Malta, sadly, is perhaps best known for the slaughter of migrant birds that occurs every year. There is no doubt that more birds would nest on the island if hunting pressure were not so high, but Mediterranean islands generally have a relatively low number of breeding species compared with the number passing through on passage. The Breeding Birds of Malta, published by the BirdLife partner on the island is doing a grand job of raising awareness of the birds and the problems facing them. The blurb on the back of the book sums it up nicely: “…The list (of breeding birds) is not long, but this makes the birds all the more precious to study and to protect. Too many species have been lost, often due to human ignorance or indifference. One way to help our breeding birds is to spread awareness about them, and this book seeks to do just that…”