BirdLife Malta has appealed for public assistance after one of three White Storks that arrived in Malta over the weekend went missing, prompting fears that the bird may have fallen victim to illegal activity.
The birds, which originated from north-eastern Italy, had drawn attention from delighted birdwatchers after being sighted over Siġġiewi on Saturday, before settling to roost for the night on top of floodlight posts near the Santa Luċija football ground.
BirdLife issued an appeal for information on a Facebook post Monday, where it said that after the three birds’ arrival in Malta, volunteers from BirdLife Malta, together with the Environmental Protection Unit (EPU), kept watch on the birds late into the night to ensure their safety.
However, early the following morning, the storks were nowhere to be seen, it said.
Only two birds were subsequently spotted flying over Gudja and eventually reaching Ħal Far, indicating that one bird had gone missing, BirdLife said.
The remaining pair were last seen flying out to sea from Żurrieq late on Sunday morning.
The NGO said that one of the storks carried a colour ring bearing the code PA905, identifying it as a female White Stork ringed in the nest on 11 June 2025 at the Fagagna Oasis in north-eastern Italy.
It said that this successful reintroduction project had been running for several years, and this year alone, 69 chicks hatched, with 50 of them ringed before fledging, including PA905.
“Given that storks are unfortunately sought after by collectors for illegal taxidermy, and considering that these birds normally remain closely together when roosting, it is highly likely that the missing stork disappeared somewhere between Santa Luċija and Gudja early on Sunday morning,” the post said.
BirdLife Malta urged anyone who may have witnessed anything unusual or who has information to contact the organisation or the EPU on 119.
“This is not the first time storks from the Fagagna reintroduction programme have reached Malta. In September 2014, a flock of White Storks landed on a crane in Marsa, and one was later shot and killed,” BirdLife said.
It said that that incident led to the immediate closure of the hunting season, showing a bold stance by the government at the time in not tolerating any form of illegal hunting.
Photo: Aron Tanti