The Government on Saturday announced the opening of the 2025 trapping season for the song thrush (malvizz) and golden plover (pluviera), following the recommendation of the Ornis Committee. The season for the song thrush will run from October 20 to December 31, 2025, while the season for the golden plover will open on November 1 and close on January 10, 2026. Both start and end dates are inclusive, the government said.
The government has set a national quota of 5,000 song thrushes and 700 golden plovers for the duration of the derogation.
Licensed trappers will be required to comply with strict reporting and monitoring procedures throughout the season. Each capture of a song thrush or golden plover must be reported immediately by calling the free helpline 8000 2020 from the mobile number registered in the trapper's name, or by using the official mobile application Game Reporting MT. Both systems will confirm the report through an automatic SMS notification.
If a bird bearing a scientific ring is captured, the trapper must record all relevant details on the official ring form issued with their special license. Furthermore, all trappers are obliged to report their trapping effort even when no birds are caught. This must be done before leaving the site, again either by calling the free number or using the Game Reporting MT app, as outlined in the special license conditions.
The telephone reporting system (8000 2020) provides clear, step-by-step voice instructions to ensure accessibility and ease of use for all participants. Both the phone and app systems automatically confirm every report through an SMS message sent back to the user.
The government emphasised that anyone in possession of a special license for the trapping of song thrush and golden plover is legally bound to observe all regulations attached to this derogation. The announcement forms part of Malta's regulated framework governing traditional trapping practices carried out under specific conditions and within limits approved by the European Union's Birds Directive.