/library/oar/handle/123456789/150757 Fri, 06 Nov 2026 11:41:27 GMT 2026-11-06T11:41:27Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/150804 Title: Il-Merill : the ornithological journal of BirdLife Malta no. 35 Abstract: Il-Merill is the ornithological journal of BirdLife Malta. It serves as a medium for the publication of articles and short notes dealing with aspects of ornithology that have a bearing on the Maltese Islands and the Mediterranean. It also carries systematic lists of birds recorded in the Maltese Islands as well as bird ringing reports. Il-Merill has been in publication since 1970. Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/150804 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/150803 Title: Phenology and funnelling of diurnal duck migration in the Maltese Islands in spring Abstract: Diurnal duck migration over the Maltese Islands is mainly restricted to the coasts with only exceptional inland occurrences. Offshore observations of duck movements are predominantly visible from headlands, with birds flying at various distances from land, often influenced by local meteorological conditions. The largest numbers are recorded in spring, the main area being the Malta-Gozo Channel. The birds either fly through or rest on the sea surface in the Channel itself or a few kilometres offshore in the areas leading to the Channel. Data collected through regular counts made from 1987 to 2013 have helped provide an insight into the density of passage ducks over the spring migration season in correlation to meteorological conditions and, most importantly, to the lunar cycle. Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/150803 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/150800 Title: Assessing the significance of the impact of Yellow-legged Gulls Larus m. michahellis on nesting Mediterranean Storm-petrels Hydrobates pelagicus melitensis on the island of Filfla Abstract: Around 160 pairs of Yellow-legged Gull nest on Filfla, approximately one fourth of them (with an increasing tendency) in the boulder scree inside a Mediterranean Storm-petrel colony. Preliminary population estimates on the basis of capture-mark-recapture data and population models reveal a number of ca 17,000–20,000 Storm-petrel individuals for the Filfla colony. This number includes an unknown number of non-breeders and prospectors. At present, there are no data available whether the Filfla population is stable, declining or increasing. However, the concern lies with overall trends in seabird species from the tubenose family showing drastic declines around the world (Croxall et al., 2012). Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/150800 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/150799 Title: Distance from flushing by Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis Abstract: Some species of birds tolerate human presence more than others and in some cases, they become so accustomed to human presence that they even choose to breed in close proximity to humans. This tolerance can be the result of a number of causes, such as human attitude towards birds and nature, availability of food, shelter and accessibility of breeding sites. To state that all members of a particular species are tolerant or the opposite is a gross over statement. In areas where birds are disturbed on a regular basis, they tend to become shy of humans but if the human attitude is the opposite, birds can develop a trusting nature and become rather tame (Attard-Montalto, 1999; Borg, 1999; Sultana et al., 2011). Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT /library/oar/handle/123456789/150799 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z