https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/75325 Sat, 04 Apr 2026 21:06:58 GMT 2026-04-04T21:06:58Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/50866 Title: Il-Merill : the ornithological journal of BirdLife Malta no. 33 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 any aspect of ornithology having a bearing on the Maltese Islands and the Mediterranean. It also carries systematic lists of birds recorded in the Maltese Islands, rarities reports as well as bird ringing reports. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/50866 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/50865 Title: Malta rarities and records committee – Malta : 2nd report Abstract: This is the second report of the Malta Rarities and Records Committee (MRRC) covering the years 2011 to 2015. The first report, which covered the years 2000 to 2010, appeared in Il-Merill (2010) pages 47- 54. This report reviews six committee meetings which were held at the National Museum of Natural History on 03.02.2011, 02.02.2012, 07.11.2012, 20.02.2014, 29.01.2015 and 02.02.2016. Discussions and decisions on some of the submitted records were also carried out online between the officials and committee members when appropriate. The members serving on the Committee were: Raymond Galea (Chairman), Edward Bonavia (Secretary), John J. Borg (representing the National Museum of Natural History), and Ian Balzan; Denis Cachia; Caldon Mercieca; and Joe Sultana as members. Raymond Vella also served as member from 2011-2013. The Committee sought the advice of international experts before taking a decision on some of the records. During the Committee Meeting held on 20th of February 2014 it was decided that the official name for the Rarities Committee should be the Malta Rarities and Records Committee (MRRC). It was also decided that apart from discussing records of rarities, the MRRC should: (a) Keep and update regularly the official Bird Species list of Malta (b) Review any new or rare breeding records (c) Discuss records at sub-species level where possible (d) Take into account the deliberation of bird records in Malta It was also agreed that the MRRC should function under the auspices of BirdLife Malta, while retaining a representative of the National Museum of Natural History as long as the member holding this post is well versed in birds and ornithology. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/50865 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/50864 Title: Ringing report 2006 to 2016 Abstract: This report covers the ringing activities of the BirdLife Malta Bird Ringing Scheme for the years 2006 to 2016. During the years under review, the licensed ringers were: John Attard Montalto, Martin Austad, Ian Balzan, John J. Borg, Denis Cachia, Victor Cilia, Charles Coleiro, Jean Paul Farrugia, Nicholas Galea, Raymond Galea, Charles Gauci, Mario V. Gauci, Mark Gauci, John Grech, Emanuel Mallia, Joseph M. Mangion, Benjamin Metzger, Glenn Micallef, Patrick Sammut, Joe Sultana, Nadia Tschovikov, Justin Vassallo, and Adin Vella. Throughout the period under review several foreign ringers were granted temporary local ringing licenses to assist in fieldwork mainly related to seabird studies and bird ringing on Comino. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/50864 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/50853 Title: Editorial note : fraud in ornithology Abstract: An excellent article entitled “What the eye doesn’t see: the prevalence of fraud in ornithology” by Andrew H.J. Harrop, J. Martin Collinson and Tim Melling, appeared in British Birds Vol. 105 pp.236-257 (May 2012). Its abstract reads: “There is a tendency to see examples of fraud in ornithology as rare aberrations. This paper outlines some known and suspected historical examples of fraud, and argues that fraud of one kind or another has occurred more or less consistently, if uncommonly, in ornithology. Although most of the examples discussed are from Britain, it is likely that similar examples could be found in the archives of many nations. It is also highly likely that small-scale fraud continues today and is something that the ornithological community should be aware of. In particular, this has implications for the level of proof required by those assessing records of rarities.” Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/50853 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z