A “research period” on seven species of songbird opens tomorrow “under strictly supervised conditions,” the Ministry for Gozo has said.

In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry said that the government, after considering the Ornis Committee’s recommendation, will open a period of “research” on the seven songbird species from the 20th of October to the 20th of December, both dates included.

The Ministry said that anyone participating in the songbird research project, under the authorisation of the special license issued in his name will be:

Obliged to release back into the wild any song bird that it catches immediately after checking whether it is wearing a scientific ring and report it at that same time (species and amount) by calling, free of charge, on 8000 2020 from a registered mobile number on his behalf, or by using the mobile app ‘Game Reporting MT’. The systems confirm the report by sending back an SMS as confirmation;

Obliged to write all the details in the ringing form issued in his name, which is included with the special license, if he catches a bird of prey with a scientific ring;

Every bird caught that has a scientific ring must also be reported on the same day as explained in the special license;

Encouraged to take a short video showing the songbirds flying after release from the same place where they were caught as explained in the special license;

He reports the research effort whenever he takes part in the research project and has not caught anything by, before leaving, calling, free of charge, on 8000 2020 from a mobile number registered in his name, or using the mobile app ‘Game Reporting MT’, as explained in the special license.

The government, after considering the recommendation of the Ornis Committee, is also allowing trapping of Song Thrushes from the 20th of October to the 31st of December, both dates included, and for the plover from the 1st of November, to the 10th of January, both dates included, with a national quota of 5,000 for Song Thrushes and 700 for Plovers.

Anyone who is licensed to trap for these two species will be: Obliged to immediately report their catches by calling, free of charge, on 8000 2020 from a mobile number registered in his name, or by using the ‘Game Reporting MT’ mobile app.

The systems confirm the report by sending back an SMS as confirmation; If he catches a plover or plover with a scientific ring, he must write all the details in the ringing form, issued in the name of the person with the license, which is included with the special license;

He reports an unsuccessful trapping effort must, before leaving, calling, free of charge, on 8000 2020 from a mobile number registered in his name, or using the ‘Game Reporting MT’ mobile app, as explained in the special license.

The Ministry warned that “anyone who is in possession of the special license for the “research” songbirds and/or for the trapping of the two species above is legally obliged to observe all the regulations linked to these two derogations.”

File photo: BirdLife Malta

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