Last known pair of Barn owls Tyto alba shot

Abstract

Sultana et al. (1975) listed the Barn owl Tyto alba as a very scarce breeding resident and estimated that at least 10 pairs were breeding. in 1976, it was recorded at four different sites during the breeding season while it was recorded from only two sites in 1978. Sultana and Gauci (1982) noted its presence in at least one locality in Gozo. The Locality which they referred to is Mgarr ix-Xini Valley. On Thursday 19 May 1988, the authors went at the site beneath the nest to see if there were any pellets, which indicate the presence of the birds. A young bird which was about three weeks old was found dead on the ground below the nest. The bird could not have been dead longer than a day because it was still intact and decomposition was still at an early stage. On closer inspection,we could note another dead bird which seemed bigger, in a bristle bush immediatly below the nesting crevice. Just below the nest-site we found two fresh spent cartridges marked as containing size 9 lead shot.