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Click here to go back Details of this species in Rdum tal-Madonna Status: Alien Invasiveness: Invasive Occurrence: Present/controlled Source: BirdLife Malta, undated Arrival Date: Introduction: Species Notes for this Location: One of the threats facing the successful rearing of Yelkouan Shearwater chicks (see Puffinus yelkouan in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species) in Malta is predation of the chicks by rats (Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus) (BirdLife International 2004; BirdLife Malta, undated). Management Notes for this Location: Eradication of rats (Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus) is one of a series of actions being undertaken by the EU LIFE Yelkouan Shearwater Project. The overall aim of the project is to increase breeding pairs from 1500 to 2000 pairs nationally, and from 500 pairs to 700 pairs at Rdum tal-Madonna Special Protected area (75.3 hectares) (BirdLife Malta, undated). Work on rat control began in December 2006 until March 2007. The aim of the project was to remove rats from the main part of the site and then, using a network of regularly inspected permanent bait stations, detect and destroy any rats moving into the area. Please follow this link Varnham and Meier, 2007 for more details on methods used, results, recommendations and future of the project (Varnham and Meier, 2007). Location Notes: Rdum Tal-Madonna is identified as an Important Bird Areas (IBA) by BirdLife International. Impacts: Threat to endangered species: Predation by rats (Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus) are one of the threats facing the successful rearing of Yelkouan Shearwater chicks (see Puffinus yelkouan in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species) (BirdLife International 2004; BirdLife Malta, undated). Last Modified: 25/07/2007 11:48:50 a.m.