Flight for Insight: Monitoring Yellow-legged Gulls

Description

The Yellow-legged Gull is one of Malta's most familiar seabirds, yet surprisingly little is known about the species in particular its movements. Over the past years BirdLife Malta became increasingly concerned at the number of sick, weak gulls being recovered from different places in the Maltese Islands. Most of these birds are successfully rehabilitated thanks to the dedicated work of our conservation team. However a number of birds are recovered when it is too late and unfortunately do not make it. The idea of this project is to try and find out what the possible causes of this sickness is. Through the Flight for Insight project, BirdLife Malta has fitted six rehabilitated Yellow-legged Gulls with lightweight GPS transmitters. These devices allow us to follow the birds' movements in near real time, providing valuable information about where they feed, roost and travel. The birds are also fitted with a scientific ring as well as a colour ring which enables us to identify the individual from a distance. The project aims to improve our understanding of the species' ecology, assess the success of rehabilitation efforts, and identify potential environmental threats that may affect gull survival. By sharing the birds' journeys online, we also hope to bring science closer to the public and inspire greater appreciation for Malta's wildlife. Follow the tracks below and discover where these remarkable birds take us. This project is funded by the National STEM Community Fund of Xjenza Malta, under whose remit operates Esplora Interactive Science Centre, on behalf of the National STEM Engagement Working Group.