Two Greater Flamingos, including one that was rescued in Gozo, were released earlier this week at BirdLife Malta’s Ghadira Nature Reserve following a short period in their care.

BirdLife Malta said that the first one was found at Dahlet Qorrot Bay in Gozo, where it had landed in the middle of the beach on the 20th of August.

It was rescued by an ERA officer and immediately taken to the government vet who found it to be weak from migration.

The second flamingo was recovered by members of the hunting organisation Kaccaturi San Ubertu the following day at l-Ghadira s-Safra in Malta.

They handed over the flamingo to BirdLife Malta and it was taken to the government vet for examination.

The NGO explained that that also in this case the Greater Flamingo was only weak from migration and in a just over a week it was certified as having gained enough strength to be released back into the wild.

Both juvenile flamingos were part of the large flock which was observed migrating over the Maltese Islands on the 20-21st of August.

BirdLife explained that flamingos migrate in flocks of adults and juveniles but the young ones tend to become exhausted and divert from the rest of the flock to get some rest, as in the case of these two.

Following the green light by the veterinarian, both flamingos were eventually released at Ghadira

Both birds were ringed prior to being released by members of BirdLife Malta staff at the reserve.

Photograph: BirdLife Malta – Kristina Govorukha – Footage and editing BirdLife Malta, Jose Luque

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