Wirt Ghawdex have said that there are still some seats available for Friday's public lecture, with the title: From Thevet (1757) to Schembri (1843) – The early years of Ornithology in Malta, by Joe Sultana

Despite their small size the Maltese islands have a rich history that spans 7000 years. Situated strategically in the centre of the Mediterranean in the wide path of bird migration, birds have fascinated people down the ages, and not surprisingly, resulted also in a rich and varied ornithological history.

The lecture covers the early years of the history of ornithology in the Islands, from a comment by a 16th century French monk in 1757, an account by the renowned Gozitan scholar de Soldanis of the collection of foul smelling seabirds by a French Night, up to the era of Antonio Schembri in the mid-19th century, hailed as the father of Maltese ornithology.

The lecture is based on the first two chapters of a recent publication "History of Ornithology in Malta," by Joe Sultana and John J. Borg published by BirdLife Malta.

The lecture will be taking place this coming Friday, the 1st of April, starting at 6.30pm, at the Santa Cecilia Chapel, Ghajnsielem.

Wirt Ghawdex advises that the lecture is open to the general public and invites everyone to attend. The lecture will be delivered in English.

Requests for reservations can be made by emailing membership@wirtawdex.org or through the website.

Permalink: The early years of Ornithology in Malta: Wirt Ghawdex lecture