Barn owl project reaches its final phase as reintroduction process begins

The barn owl project has entered its third and final phase, as the process for the first owlets to be released into the wild has commenced.

This was announced by Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning Aaron Farrugia during an activity at Razzett talBagħal in Buskett, a site administered by the Federation for Hunting and Conservation Malta (FKNK), where an MOU to extend the management of the site was also signed.

This MOU will be extending the work on various initiatives focused on biodiversity.

As part of the reintroduction process, barn owls are being placed in hacking boxes to gradually begin acclimatising to the natural environment before being released into the wild.

The purpose of this project is to reintroduce the barn owl in various environments around the islands of Malta and Gozo. This project is supported by the Conservation of Wild Birds Funding Scheme for Voluntary Organisations.

Minister Farrugia reiterated that environmental conservation and biodiversity conservation are two important pillars of a functioning ecosystem, and it is our duty to invest in these pillars through initiatives to preserve them for future generations. The Minister stressed that we must ensure that our environmental heritage is not lost over time.

“This is a historic moment for conservation in our country, as we can now officially say that the barn owl has returned to our islands,” FKNK President Lucas Micallef stated.

Following the success of the live streaming of the barn owl project, the Ministry also funded the installation of a bird-feeder and a camera with the possibility of live streaming, which provides the opportunity to observe the birds that visit Buskett.

Razzett tal-Bagħal also hosts a nursery for native trees and shrubs, in which, so far, thousands of trees have been planted from seeds collected from Buskett and the surrounding areas. These seeds are being distributed to the public free of charge.