Project duration: May 2025 – April 2026

BirdLife Malta’s mission is to conserve wild birds & their habitats, biodiversity and promoting the sustainable use of natural resources. Since 1962, the organisation has been at the forefront of campaigns against the unsustainable hunting and trapping of birds, ineffective legislation, and over-development. It has played a key role in advocating for land and sea protection through bird sanctuaries, protected areas, and Natura 2000 sites.

BirdLife Malta is the only entity authorised by the government to rescue and rehabilitate wild birds, following a protocol overseen by veterinary professionals. Annually, the organisation handles 400-600 cases of injured or stranded wild birds, with 200-300 additional cases handled by government authorities. Around 200-260 of these cases enter rehabilitation.

Through this project BirdLife Malta aims to share uplifting rehabilitation and release stories through social media and public events during which attendees can see wild birds up close being released back into the wild. Releases will also be shared via videos and reels published on social media and rehabilitated birds will be followed on their journey through tracking devices upon release.

The Malta Environment Foundation is proud to be supporting Birdlife Malta with a grant that will be used to carry out upgrades at BirdLife Malta rehab facilities, increase communication tools, coordinate public events and create online content focused on bird release stories.

The expected results are:

• Improved facilities at rehab premises
• Improved rehabilitation success of injured birds admitted to rehab
• Increased support from general public & increase in membership
• Increased attendance to BirdLife Malta events especially public wild bird releases

“We want to give injured birds a second chance, and people a first chance to help! Thanks to MEF’s grant, we can better connect these two aspects of our mission. People often turn to us when they find wild birds in distress, entrusting us with their rescue and care. Now, with this support, we can give back by inviting them to be part of the experience of releasing these birds back into the wild. This grant empowers us to share their stories more widely, raising awareness and fostering collaboration for the protection of our avifauna.”

Nic Barbara, Head of Conservation, Birdlife Malta