Experience a wildlife encounter with one of Malta’s most enigmatic birds, the Scopoli’s Shearwater, by taking to the sea next Saturday evening with BirdLife Malta on a trip to the cliffs of Ta’ Cenc.

The Scopoli’s Shearwater, known as Ciefa, is the largest of Malta’s shearwater species. During the breeding season these birds can be seen congregating in large numbers (500-1000 birds) on the sea after they return from their foraging trips, behaviour known as “rafting.”

As darkness falls they begin to leave the water and fly to their burrows in the cliffs to take the turn in incubating their egg or to feed their growing chicks

With 5% of the global population of Scopoli’s Shearwaters breeding in Malta, it is vital that these birds are protected. Last year, the Malta-Gozo channel became Malta’s first internationally recognised marine Important Bird Area, partly due to the importance of the channel for Malta’s threatened shearwaters.

The Scopoli’s Shearwater, along with the Yelkouan Shearwater (Garnija) and the European Storm Petrel (Kangu ta’ Filfla), is being studied by the EU Life+ Malta Seabird Project, led by BirdLife Malta. This project is creating an inventory of marine Important Bird Areas (IBAs) where these seabirds forage and breed.

This work is of great significance due to the threats Malta’s seabirds’ face from development close to the colonies, rat predation, and light pollution.

BirdLife Malta’s Shearwater Boat Trip for the public is taking place next Saturday, the 2nd of August, between 6.30pm and 9.15pm, tickets are €6 for members and €8 for non-members.

To find out further details or to make a booking for this event, which is essential, please contact events@birdlifemalta.org or phone the BirdLife office on 21347646.

Find out more about the conservation of Malta’s seabirds: View the Malta Seabird Project blog here.

Raft of Scopoli’s Shearwaters at Ta Cenc. Photo by Daniel Cilia.

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