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.