https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/34849 2026-11-15T22:54:14Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150922 Title: Il-Merill : the ornithological journal of BirdLife Malta no. 36 Abstract: Il-Merill is the ornithological journal of BirdLife Malta. It serves as a medium for the publication of articles and short notes dealing with aspects of ornithology that have a bearing on the Maltese Islands and the Mediterranean. It also carries systematic lists of birds recorded in the Maltese Islands and rarities reports written by the Maltese Rarities and Records Committee, as well as bird-ringing reports prepared by the BirdLife Malta Ringing Scheme. Il-Merill has been in publication since 1970. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150921 Title: At-sea surveys expose pelagic migration of seabirds in the Central Mediterranean Abstract: Much of the effort towards monitoring bird migration is centred on migratory landbird or shorebird counts at terrestrial vantage points. However, a proportion of avian passage is not accessible with these methods: the pelagic migration of seabirds. Here we present data from three years of atsea surveys, conducted a decade apart, around the Maltese Islands in the Central Mediterranean. Surveys were conducted intensively in 2012 and 2013 as part of the LIFE+ Malta Seabird Project carried out by BirdLife Malta, and a less intensive transect set-up carried out from August 2023 to May 2024 for the collection of data for Article 12 reporting under the EU Birds Directive. These at-sea surveys, following ESAS (European Seabirds At Sea) methodology, substantiated our knowledge of the use of the Maltese Fisheries Management Zone for the migration and stopover of Black Terns Chlidonias niger in late summer and early autumn, displaying a strong association with fishery and aquaculture infrastructure. Sightings also suggest the active westerly migration of Mediterranean Gulls Larus melanocephalus and Scopoli’s Shearwaters Calonectris diomedea through Maltese waters in autumn, movements of Little Gulls Hydrocoloeus minutus in March and December, and connectivity between Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis populations in the Mediterranean. Low-intensity surveys may not be sufficient to estimate passage population numbers in the open sea, but provide clues into offshore activity for more directed surveying, highlighting species of conservation concern that may require further attention in Maltese waters. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150906 Title: Preliminary findings of bioacoustic monitoring of nocturnal bird migration in Malta Abstract: The nocturnal migration of birds in the Maltese Islands has not previously been studied. This article presents the preliminary findings of the first efforts to record nocturnal bird migration over Malta, through the passive recording of nocturnal flight calls (NFCs). Sampling was carried out in a non-standardised manner from eight stations across 11 migration seasons (spring 2020 – spring 2025). The NFCs of 78 species and 1 genus were recorded. Tree Pipits Anthus trivialis were by far the most frequently and abundantly recorded nocturnal migrants, while Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax, Common Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus, Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus, Song Thrush Turdus philomelos and European Robin Erithacus rubecula were also prominently recorded. Notable occurrences included the regular overland migration of Garganeys Spatula querquedula and other water birds, indicating that nocturnal route choices may differ from known diurnal ones. Multiple species were detected more frequently and abundantly than expected from current knowledge based on diurnal observations, highlighting the importance of this technique as part of migration studies. In terms of the timing of migration, for most taxa the passage over Malta tended to peak later during the night in autumn than in spring. Passerine passage tended to peak later at night than wader and heron migration in both seasons. However, further dedicated and standardised efforts are required to improve understanding of seasonal and spatial differences in nocturnal migration phenology. Studying nocturnal migration over the Maltese Islands can help to inform conservation decisions in relation to light pollution, hunting and trapping. This study serves as a point of departure for further standardised and long-term NFC monitoring efforts in Malta. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150905 Title: A notable control of a colour-ringed Swedish Willow Warbler in Malta Abstract: The Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus is a regular spring and autumn migrant to Malta. The species breeds across Eurasia and winters south of the Sahara (Sokolovskis, Caballero-Lopez et al., 2023; BirdLife International, 2024). The European breeding population mainly breeds in Northern and Central Europe (BirdLife International, 2024). In spring, on its northward migration, it usually occurs in Malta from mid-March to mid-May, with a peak in April (Bonavia, Borg et al., 2005; Bonavia, Borg et al., 2010). On its southward, post-breeding migration it is recorded from mid- August to the third week of October, peaking in September (Bonavia, Borg et al., 2005; Bonavia, Borg et al., 2010). Exceptional birds have occurred in early March, late June, July and November (Coleiro, 1991; Bonavia, Borg et al., 2010; Miceli, 2024). 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z