In an incident on Sunday, two Black-headed Gulls (Maltese name Gawwija Rasha Kannella) were observed acting strangely at BirdLife Malta’s Salina Nature Reserve.

BirdLife said that while one was trying in vain to fly away, the second one could be seen being dragged along, occasionally going under water.

After investigation, it was found that these gulls were entangled in a fishing line and hooks and whilst one was trying as hard as it could to fly away, the other one was clearly exhausted and having difficulty to stay afloat.

BirdLife Malta said that it was contacted on its emergency number and within a short time a rescue operation was initiated.

The rescue was successful and both Black Headed Gulls were saved following the timely intervention by Salina Nature Warden Dominic Frendo and Daniel Collin from BirdLife Malta’s Emergency & Injured Birds Team.

BirdLife Malta said that one of the gulls was found to be healthy and set free immediately, whilst the other one was exhausted from its struggle and had to be kept for a short while in a safe place until it regained its health.

Photos from top left: Two Black-headed Gulls struggling to keep afloat after they became entangled in fishing line at Salina Nature Reserve (gull photos by Mario V Gauci); Salina Nature Warden Dominic Frendo (left) and Daniel Collin from BirdLife Malta’s Emergency & Injured Birds Team conducting the rescue operation in one of the salt pans at Salina yesterday. (Photo by Noel Camilleri); and the two gulls soon after they were saved (Photo by Daniel Collin)

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