Spotting sparrows : using a citizen science-based approach to research Spanish Sparrow roosts and promote urban conservation in Malta

Abstract

The involvement of untrained volunteers from local communities to perform conservation research can be traced back to at least 1900, when the National Audubon Society started its annual Christmas bird count (Cohn 2008). Under the name of citizen science the practice has in recent years become a popular approach, with thousands of projects currently active around the world (Bonney et al. 2014). While the validity of data collected by citizen scientists has often come into question (Cohn 2008), the approach is generally recognised to have the advantage of allowing research at a very fine scale while engaging local communities in conservation (Dickinson et al. 2012). The Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis (Temminck, 1820) is one of the most abundant breeding birds in Malta (Sultana et al. 2011). The species is perfectly adapted to urban habitats and is widely distributed in cities and towns across the country, which is reflected in its Maltese name għasfur tal-bejt, “house bird” (Sultana et al. 2011). Spanish Sparrows are arguably the species with which the Maltese community is the most familiar, and was selected as the object of a citizen science project called “Spot a Sparrow” (SaS). BirdLife Malta led the project in partnership with The Inspire Foundation (from now on, “Inspire”), the leading Maltese charity working for people with disabilities. SaS was launched in October 2014, and addressed a number of environmental and social issues. The project’s main objective was to map Spanish Sparrow roost sites, particularly in urban areas, in order to ensure their protection by local councils. The secondary objectives were to raise awareness about urban wildlife in Malta, to develop a sense of community in urban areas, and to promote integration between several groups, especially those with disabilities and mental health issues.