Maltese police confiscate national bird
A
number of Blue Rock Thrushes have been confiscated by the police in
Malta after they received a tip off. The Blue Rock Thrush is the
national bird of Malta and it is illegal to take the birds from the
wild or keep them in captivity. The Administrative Law Enforcement
Police who are responsible for wildlife protection simultaneously
raided two houses in two different areas, namely Cospicua and Marsa in
the south of Malta and they confiscated six Blue Rock Thrushes from two
individuals.
The birds - one fully grown, a juvenile
and four of only a few days old - were confiscated and handed over by
the Police to International Animal Rescue in Malta to be cared for.
Five of these birds were taken from their nests very recently and are
having to be hand fed frequently during the day.
Sources
close to the Police said this is not the first time that these two
individuals have been found in possession of illegal Blue Rock
Thrushes. In the coming days both men will be arraigned before the
Court. Max Farrugia who is caring for the birds explained that the Blue
Rock Thrush is a very colourful bird, particularly the male, but it is
mainly sought after by birdkeepers for its song. It is a protected
species and cannot be taken from its nest, trapped or kept in captivity.
The
Blue Rock Thrush is a fairly common breeding resident both in Malta and
Gozo. Most frequently it breeds in sea cliffs but some pairs were
recorded breeding along hills and rocky valleys. The breeding season
starts late in March and continues until the end of June. From four to
six eggs are laid but on most occasions the number is five. A fully
grown female usually breeds twice during a season and both broods are
reared. The nests are mainly found in holes on the cliffs and on very
rare occasions in disused buildings, particularly in the remote
countryside. Some years ago the Blue Rock Thrush was on the decline but
it has since started to recover and the population is now quite stable.
Berita dari web IAR
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