Be the first to comment!White Stork goes missing after journey from Italy: BirdLife appeals for information
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Three White Storks originating from north-eastern Italy arrived in Malta last Saturday, delighting birdwatchers as they were first observed soaring above Siggiewi before settling to roost for the night on top of floodlight posts near the Santa Lucija football ground.
One of the storks has subsequently gone missing, prompting BirdLife Malta to appeal for any information as to its whereabouts.
Volunteers from BirdLife Malta, together with the Environmental Protection Unit (EPU), kept watch on the three birds late into the night to ensure their safety. However, the NGO said that early the following morning, the storks were nowhere to be seen.
Only two birds were subsequently spotted flying over Gudja and eventually reaching Hal Far, indicating that one individual had gone missing. BirdLife Malta said that the remaining pair were last seen flying out to sea from Zurrieq late on Sunday morning.
The NGO said that one of the storks carried a colour ring bearing the code PA905, identifying it as a female White Stork ringed in the nest on 11th of June 2025 at the Fagagna Oasis in north-eastern Italy.
It added that this successful reintroduction project has been running for several years. This year alone, 69 chicks hatched, with 50 of them ringed before fledging, including PA905.
BirdLife Malta stated that, “given that storks are unfortunately sought after by collectors for illegal taxidermy, and considering that these birds normally remain closely together when roosting, it is highly likely that the missing stork disappeared somewhere between Santa Lucija and Gudja early on Sunday morning.”
BirdLife Malta urged anyone who may have witnessed anything unusual or who has information to contact the organisation or the EPU on 119.
“This is not the first time storks from the Fagagna reintroduction programme have reached Malta. In September 2014, a flock of White Storks landed on a crane in Marsa, and one was later shot and killed,” BLM said.
It went on to say “that incident led to the immediate closure of the hunting season, showing a bold stance by the government at the time in not tolerating any form of illegal hunting.”
Top photo by Aron Tanti 11th October at Santa Lucija
