BirdLife Malta said that the first chicks of Scopoli’s Shearwater have already started to hatch, as their breeding season is now in full swing, with parents busy feeding their hungry chicks.
On Fungus Rock, just off Dwejra, Gozo, a small colony of these birds can be found, where the islet provides an ideal habitat for the species.
BirdLife Malta said that its seabird team, through the LIFE Tetide project, is closely monitoring the Fungus Rock colony and tracking the nests during this sensitive stage of the breeding cycle.
It warned that Fungus Rock and its habitats are threatened by invasive species such as rodents. Rodents often feed on shearwater eggs and chicks, but also on the endemic Maltese wall lizard.
“Thanks to biosecurity measures against rats and continuous monitoring, we are helping to safeguard shearwaters and lizards on the islet,” said BirdLife Malta.
However, it said that the public can also help by not leaving litter in the countryside, especially in sensitive sites like Dwejra.
Find out more about the LIFE Tetide project by clicking here [1].
Photos: Ben Metzger