The sighting of another juvenile Mute Swan, this time at St. Thomas Bay delighted those who had the opportunity to observe it in the early morning today.

BirdLife Malta said that “unfortunately it was evident after a while that the bird was injured with blood stains in the underpart of the right wing close to the body. These photos taken by BirdLife Malta’s CEO Mark Sultana confirm this.”BLM said that according to latest reports the bird is now in Birzebbuga being watched over by the ALE.

“The juvenile seems to form part of another flock as all the 12 Mute Swans presently in Gozo are still at Marsalforn Valley this morning,” BLM added.

“While the general public clearly showed their enthusiasm and excitement at the visit of the swans in Gozo, it is disheartening and a shame that once again some hunters still defy goodwill and common respect to laws and to nature and try to kill such a beauty. Birds are indeed for everyone to enjoy and not for anyone to kill or capture egoistically,” he stated.

BirdLife Malta said that it is adamant to keep on working in collaboration with all stakeholders to eradicate illegal hunting in Malta while it thanks the Administrative Law Enforcement (ALE) unit and the general public for its support on this particular case.

Those wishing to help the NGO can do so by becoming members on http://birdlifemalta.org/become-member.

Photos by BirdLife Malta CEO Mark Sultana

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