The government is going to allow a ‘research period’ for seven species of song-birds as from Friday 20 October.

In a statement, the Gozo Ministry said that after taking into consideration the recommendations from the Ornis Committee, a “period of research” for seven species of song-birds will open from 20 October and run until 20 December this year.

The Ministry said that anybody participating in this research period must follow strict regulations of a special license.

The regulations first and foremost oblige anyone who traps a song-bird to let it back into the wild immediately after checking whether it has been ringed and to also report it immediately either by freephone on 8000 2020 from a mobile phone registered in their name or through the Game Reporting MT app.

The person is also obliged to write all the details of any ringed birds that they may catch on the respective form, and report it on the same day as well.

The licence-holder is also encouraged to take a short video showing the song-bird being allowed back to the wild from the same place that it is caught.

The licence-holder must also report their research effort every time they take part in a research project and not catch anything through the Freephone 8000 2020 or through the Game Report MT app.

Meanwhile, the government will also allow the trapping of Song Thrushes (Malvizz) as from 20 October to 31 December and of the Plover (Pluvier) as from 1 November to 10 January 2024.

The quotas are 5,000 for Song Thrushes and 700 for Plovers.

Anyone licensed for the trapping of these two species will be obliged to immediately report their catch by Freephone on 8000 2020 or through the Game Reporting MT app, and to fill in the respective form if the bird happens to be ringed.

Any unsuccessful trapping effort must also be reported through the aforementioned means.