A rehabilitated Common Kestrel that had survived a previous shooting and completed a migration journey to Italy and back was killed just four days after returning to Malta, with GPS tracking data indicating that its remains were dumped at sea off Miġra l-Ferħa, BirdLife Malta said in a statement.

The female kestrel, named Għasri after the Gozo locality where she was rescued on 31 October 2025, was one of four rehabilitated falcons fitted with GPS trackers under BirdLife Malta's Wings of Hope Project, funded by the Malta Environment Foundation.

Following rehabilitation and veterinary treatment, she was released at Foresta 2000 in Mellieħa on 10 February 2026.

The statement said that Għasri spent two months in the Fiddien area before migrating to Sicily in early April and subsequently travelling to southern Italy, where she settled near Corato in Apulia.

Tracking data suggested that she may have nested in a rural building within an olive plantation. After spending the summer in Italy, she began her autumn migration southwards, with her transmitter confirming her return to Malta last Friday morning.

"This bird was given a second chance after being shot. She recovered, crossed the Mediterranean, survived the summer in Italy and found her way back to Malta. It is a brilliant testament to what our rescue and rehabilitation work can achieve," BirdLife Malta Head of Conservation Nicholas Barbara said.

However, GPS data showed that the kestrel's final movements on Tuesday, 20 October, placed her near a trapping site and a hunting hide in the Fiddien area.

At 7pm, the transmitter recorded her location at a trapping site, with body temperature readings indicating that the bird was dead.

BirdLife Malta said the tracking data had previously shown that Għasri had been roosting in the same tree in the Fiddien area since returning to Malta.

Later that evening, the transmitter indicated that the bird's remains had been taken to sea off Miġra l-Ferħa.

At 9pm, the device transmitted data from the sea beneath Miġra l-Ferħa, recording a temperature of 26°C and an altitude of zero metres, indicating that it was at sea level.

The Environmental Protection Unit (EPU) was informed and carried out investigations at the site.

The transmitter continued floating and sending data for several hours, indicating that it remained attached to the bird. Attempts to recover the remains were hampered by rough sea conditions, while the device stopped transmitting on Wednesday.

"To lose her just four days after she returned to Malta, after following her journey to Italy and back since February, is devastating," Barbara said.

He said the incident highlighted the continued illegal killing of protected birds in Malta, even after they had undergone rehabilitation.

Barbara said the kestrel had either been shot and fallen at the trapping site or had been killed there.

He also suggested that whoever found the bird may have noticed its GPS tracker and subsequently disposed of the remains at sea to avoid detection.

BirdLife Malta said Common Kestrels were among the birds of prey most frequently targeted illegally in Malta, particularly during autumn migration.

The organisation explained that kestrels were sometimes illegally shot for taxidermy or killed because they were perceived as a threat to finches used as live decoys at trapping sites.

Another rehabilitated kestrel, which was also released on 10 February and tracked to the Miżieb area, was killed during the spring hunting season in April, the statement said.

BirdLife Malta appealed to anyone with information that could help identify those responsible for Għasri's death to contact the organisation anonymously on 79255697 or contact the EPU directly.

The NGO also renewed its appeal to Prime Minister Robert Abela not to proceed with proposed amendments weakening penalties under the Conservation of Wild Birds Regulations.

It said reducing penalties for wildlife offences would benefit those who broke the law and would not address the continued illegal killing of protected birds.

BirdLife Malta added that its rescue, rehabilitation and tracking work demonstrated that injured birds could recover and return to the wild, but their survival ultimately depended on effective protection following their release.