Malta’s Barn Owl Reintroduction Project Earns European Biodiversity Of The Month Nod
The Reintroduction of the Barn Owl into the Wild on the Maltese Islands, a project managed by the Federation for Hunting and Conservation – Malta (FKNK), has been selected as the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE) project of the month for March 2023.
The initiative is part of the FACE Biodiversity Manifesto, which showcases conservation projects led by hunting associations across Europe.
Launched in 2009, the FKNK’s barn owl reintroduction project aims to restore the species to the Maltese countryside.
In 2015, the FKNK took over the administration of the 16th-century Knights of Malta Farmhouse “Razzett tal-Bagħal” in Buskett Gardens, where a facility for captive breeding was established.
The project is closely monitored by the Authority for Resources and the Environment (ERA) and co-financed by the Fund for the Conservation of Wild Birds, administered by the Ministry for Gozo.
In 2020, the first owls were released into the wild, with 15 more released in 2021 and 2022. This year, several nest boxes were installed in Buskett and its surroundings to provide ideal breeding stations.
In an exciting development, 2023 will see some offspring with satellite equipment to study their nocturnal behaviour.
The FKNK plans to extend the project later this year by releasing more offspring into urban areas, in collaboration with the relevant authorities.
The organisation is proud to have its project recognized by FACE, which also highlighted the Maltese Native Trees and Shrubs Project in March 2021.
This demonstrates the vital role hunters and trappers play in implementing the new EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and protecting Europe’s natural environment.
What other birds would you like to see more of in the wild?