Little Bittern released at Għadira Nature Reserve

This Little Bittern was retrieved from a private residence in Żejtun on 2 September 2019. The bird ended up stranded whilst on its migration journey. The protected bird was collected by BirdLife Malta as soon as the owners made contact with our offices.

Following an examination by the government vet, it was established that the bittern had no injuries at all, and that it could be released immediately. In fact the bird was released the following day, on the 3 September, together with two juvenile flamingos at Għadira Nature Reserve. It was ringed before it was released.

The Little Bittern (Russett tas-Siġar) is a small, colourful heron which is very secretive and hard to see. It is most active around dusk, moving to good feeding sites at the water's edge where it catches small fish, frogs and large insects. Its long neck and pointed bill make catching prey an easy job for this bird. Its nest is a pile of reed stems built in reeds over water. The species is considered is scarce for Malta, with a few records each year mainly from Għadira and Simar Nature Reserves.

Footage and editing by Jose Luque.

Reserve