BirdLife Malta is organising a Migration Festival weekend, taking place over two days at Ghadira Nature Reserve in the morning and Buskett in the afternoon on Saturday, the 30th of September, and then on Sunday,the 1st of October at Laferla Cross.

BLM said that September is a truly spectacular time for birdwatching in Malta. It is the time when the sky is full of migrating birds on their way in search of their wintering spot.

The NGO explained that tor those who are curious and passionate about wildlife, this will be a great opportunity to observe and get an insight into migratory birds and their life across frontiers.

At Ghadira Nature Reserve BLM will be holding a bird ringing demonstration whilst at Buskett you can join their birdwatchers to watch birds of prey migrating.

BirdLife Malta’s annual birdwatching initiative is part of EuroBirdwatch17 which is organised by BirdLife partner organisations during the same weekend in several countries across Europe and Central Asia.

Hundreds of local birdwatchers will identify and count passing birds during the great autumn migration when millions of birds make their epic journey southwards to wintering areas in the Mediterranean and in Africa. Malta will contribute too by reporting its numbers.

This is a free event but with booking. For the bird ringing session at Ghadira in the morning BLM said that it needs to know how many people will be attending.

They have split the session in two groups (07:30-08:30 and 08:30-09:30) with a maximum number of 25 persons per group. Bookings will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

The NGO said that tor the afternoon birdwatching sessions, since the event will take place in a remote area of Buskett, participants will also have to book to join a group which will be escorted by car to the area.

The first group will leave at 2.00pm and the second one at 4.30pm. The meeting point will be the main parking area at the entrance to Buskett Gardens (Tinda). Click here for the meeting place on Google Maps. Don’t forget to take binoculars …for those without any BLM will be providing some on site.

Click here to choose and book your bird ringing session at Ghadira Nature Reserve.

Click here to choose and book your birdwatching session at Buskett.

The event on the second day of the weekend (Sunday 1st October) is planned for Laferla Cross (Is-Salib tal-Gholja).

Hundreds of local birdwatchers will identify and count passing birds during the great autumn migration when millions of birds make their epic journey southwards to wintering areas in the Mediterranean and in Africa. Malta will contribute too by reporting its numbers.

This is a free event and BLM said that contrary to Saturday’s event, for the event at Laferla Cross (outskirts of Siggiewi) on Sunday, no bookings are required.

Participants can turn up at any time between 2.00pm and 7.00pm to join in observing migrating birds of prey.

Click here to find Laferla Cross on Google Maps.

Permalink: BirdLife Malta Migration Festival: Bird ringing, and raptor migration