Bank of Valletta has recently released its latest set of four motifs for its BOV MasterCard Prepaid Cards. Depicting the beauty of birds of prey that occur on the Maltese islands, this is the fourth themed set launched by Bank of Valletta since it first introduced prepaid cards across Malta and Gozo.
As in the first set, Natalino Fenech was the eye behind the lens that captured the beauty of the Red Kite, the Merlin, the Lesser Kestrel and the Peregrine Falcon in their natural habitat.
The Red Kite is a very rare and irregular visitor to the Maltese Islands. It appears mostly in September and October, but has been also recorded in May and December. In 1843 the first Maltese ornithologist Antonio Schembri said Red Kites were more common in Gozo, where they bred, but this statement was disputed by subsequent ornithologists.
The Merlin is a small scarce falcon occurring mostly in autumn but some are also seen in winter and spring. In autumn, birds from northern Europe move south to central and southern Europe, with some reaching North Africa. Individual birds may spend several weeks in the same areas.
The Lesser Kestrel is a common spring and autumn migrant. Most are seen between March and late May, but they have also been recorded in February and as late as July. In autumn, they are usually seen between the first week of September and late October but can occasionally be seen from August to November. Small flocks are often seen on migration and birds sometimes spend up to a few weeks in the same area.
The Peregrine is synonymous with Malta because of the deed that was signed on 23 March 1530 by Charles V, granting the Maltese Islands to the Knights of St John. In return, the Knights were obliged to pay the annual nominal rent of a falcon or a hawk on All Saints Day. The Peregrine was made famous 1941 by the Warner Bros. film The Maltese Falcon, featuring Humphrey Bogart. The Peregrine is now a scarce breeding resident. Until last year, there were up to three pairs breeding annually and Peregrines are present all year round. Migrants are also seen in both spring and autumn.
Each of the four cards is linked to a specific bird of prey. The cards, which may be purchased either individually or as a limited set, come in different denominations, ranging from €50, €75, €100 and €150. They may be obtained from any BOV branch, and the card balance may be verified through any BOV ATM or by contacting the Bank's Customer Service Centre on 2131 2020.