Last year we launched the Aquatic Warbler Migration Watch campaign twice — during spring and autumn migration. We received many valuable observations from across Europe. Thank you to everyone who joined and shared records!
Migration Watch Campaign: Join Us in 2026!
Two exceptional stories from 2025
Aquatic Warbler recorded in Malta for the first time in more than 100 years
During the spring migration watch, an Aquatic Warbler was trapped and ringed at Simar Nature Reserve on 2 April 2025 — a truly historic moment.
This was the first recorded occurrence on the Maltese Islands since October 1909, when one was collected 116 years ago.
A promising journey of “Traveler” — waiting for his return to Lithuania
During our autumn migration watch campaign, we received exciting news from the Netherlands: an Aquatic Warbler with the green plastic ring 1N was observed near Rotterdam — few months after we released birds raised through our translocation programme in Lithuania. It was one of our birds, raised by our devoted team.
This young warbler hatched in the Nemunas Delta, in a meadow where cattle were grazing intensively. After our team found the nest, we worked with the farmer to protect it from the herd (including some creative cow-distraction by singing!). When the chicks were old enough, the nest was transferred to Žuvintas, where the young birds were raised and later released into the wild.
Just one month later, “Traveler” was recorded near Rotterdam on his roughly 7,000 km journey towards Africa. Now we’re keeping our fingers crossed — and hoping to welcome him back to Žuvintas this spring.
The Journey of “Traveler” in pictures
The birthplace of the “Traveler” – Nemunas delta, Alka polder. Picture by Žymantas Morkvėnas.
We rescued the Traveller’s family of five from intensive grazing—first by fencing the nest, and later by moving it into Lithuania’s translocation programme. Eglė Vičiuvienė (pictured) even sang to distract the cows while the team worked to pinpoint the nest’s exact location. Picture by Eglė Vičiuvienė.
On June 5th the entire Traveller family was translocated overnight by car from Alka Polder to the Žuvintas Biosphere Reserve. The entire Traveller family was translocated overnight by car from Alka Polder to the Žuvintas Biosphere Reserve. Picture by Žymantas Morkvėnas.
He was putting on weight pretty quickly under the devoted team’s care. Once he was grown enough, he was moved from an indoor base to an outdoor aviary. Pictures by Žymantas Morkvėnas.
Once he had adapted to the wild independent life, he was released—and flew off into his new home.
“Traveler” in Žuvintas, Lithuania, moments after leaving the aviary for the wild. Photo: Žymantas Morkvėnas.
Just over a month and a bit after release, “Traveler” turned up near Rotterdam, the Netherlands — roughly 1,500 km from Žuvintas. Pausing briefly before continuing towards Mali/Senegal, he still had over 5,000 km to go. Picture by Chris van Rijswijk.
Next Migration Watch starts on 15 March
Get ready for the upcoming Spring Migration Watch, starting 15 March, when Aquatic Warblers begin their journey back from their wintering grounds in Mali and Senegal. Join us as we follow their return and share updates from the field!
📣 Share your observations with us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/saveaquaticwarbler/
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