New breeding site for Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

Abstract

The Moorhen Gallinula chloropus is a fairly common passage migrant from March to May and from late August to November (Sultana & Gauci 1982). It is considered as a rare breeder mainly confined to wetlands and areas with water that remains present even during the summer period (Raine et al. 2009). The first confirmed breeding record of this species in the Maltese Islands was in 1984, when a nest was found in a flooded quarry in the south-eastern part of Malta. Since then it has established itself as a regular breeder at Ghadira (approximately 10 pairs) and Simar Nature Reserves (between 10 and 12 pairs) with a small but healthy population. Also in recent years, it has bred in abandoned quarries holding water, as well as in a few new other restricted and undisturbed areas (Raine 2009; Raine & Webb 2010).