This article and photo may also be viewed at
http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=105338
Tuesday, July 23, 2002
< Breeding house martins disappear >
by Natalino Fenech
The house martins breeding in Nadur, Gozo have mysteriously disappeared,
some
five days after their young hatched.
Karmenu Buttigieg, against whose home the house martins built their
bowl-shaped
mud nest, said that at least two eggs hatched two weeks ago as remains of
the
egg shells were found in the parapet and on the pavement. The adult birds
were
seen coming regularly to feed the newly hatched chicks.
But they have not been seen since Thursday.
"We do not know what happened to the birds. They simply stopped coming to
the
nest. Maybe they have been killed as it seems rather strange that both could
have died naturally or that they abandoned their young. It is also unlikely
the
adults have left because their young had died as the adults would have
probably
stayed to breed again," he said.
The birds were very tame and not afraid of people. They still went in and
out of
the nest with people around and children playing ball games close to the
nest
did not seem to disturb them.
The pair of house martins was the first to be recorded breeding in Gozo.
House martins were first recorded breeding in Malta in 1981 when two pairs
were
discovered in Mosta, just a year after the close season for hunting was
introduced.
Two other pairs bred the following year at Mdina and Filfla while a pair
bred at
Dingli two years ago.
Although this was the first breeding record in Gozo, 69-year-old Mr
Buttigieg
said he vaguely recalled a similar nest in the cliffs at Dahlet Qorrot where
his
family had fields in his childhood.
Mr Buttigieg, who was very happy that the birds chose to make their home
next to
his, said he was saddened by their apparent departure.
"The nest is still there in case they want to come again, but in my heart of
hearts I know I am hoping against hope. I think the birds are dead," he
said.
___________________________________________
This article and photo may also be viewed at
http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=105338
david camilleri
http://www.MaltaTouristAction.org
Proact, campaigning for birds and their habitats .... your contribution
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