A group of BirdLife Malta volunteer birdwatchers gathered in Valletta last Saturday to take part in the annual White Wagtail roost count – an event which first started in 1985.

BirdLife Malta said that over the years of monitoring, the numbers of roosting White Wagtails in the capital city have steadily increased over time, and 2024 resulted in a new record total; 16,171 wagtails were counted.

It went on to say that the roost count confirms that Valletta remains by far the largest roosting site for White Wagtails in the Maltese Islands, with smaller roosting sites found elsewhere, such as Bugibba and Victoria in Gozo.

BirdLife Malta highlighted that there used to be a significant roosting site in Mosta, where around 1,000 wagtails would roost, however in November, heavy pruning of the Ficus trees there meant that the wagtails had no place to settle anymore.

BirdLife pointed out that the record number in Valletta this year is likely related to the fact that the Mosta roost is currently no longer, and these birds would have been forced to find shelter elsewhere.

It stressed that “the incident in Mosta highlights the need for collaborations between local councils and environmental organisations, to ensure that the Ficus trees are maintained and pruned sensibly every year.”

The Ficus trees in Valletta have matured, and the dense vegetation allows more wagtails to roost in this location year after year.

Last Saturday’s event was attended by 18 volunteers, who were all assigned counting locations along the bastions. These positions remain the same each year, as does the survey methodology.

Even several of the volunteers who attend the count take part every year, so the accuracy of the data collected is to a high and consistent standard.

The wagtails spend their days foraging across the Maltese Islands, but as the days approach sunset, thousands of birds stream in over the bastions with one thing on their mind: to find a safe place for the night ahead.

The birds roost in the Ficus trees that are situated in Great Siege Square next to Saint John’s Co-Cathedral. Once here, the birds find safety and warmth in numbers among the thick foliage of the trees.

The wagtails arrive in Malta from October and stay until late March, to take advantage of the warmer climes found in the Mediterranean.