About

Edward Bonavia is the founder of Malta Birding Expeditions. A pharmacist by profession with an MBA from Henley Business School (UK), he has worked in operational management within the pharmaceutical industry for over 20 years. This experience brings a strong sense of organisation, reliability, and professionalism to every birding tour.

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Edward has been guiding visiting birders around the Maltese Islands for more than a decade, sharing his knowledge of Malta’s birdlife and migration with enthusiasts from around the world. His interest in birds began in early childhood under the guidance of his father, and he has been a member of BirdLife Malta (previously known as The Malta Ornithological Society) since 1990.

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He also remains actively involved in Malta’s ornithological community and currently serves as:

• Secretary of the Malta Rarities & Records Committee (since 2006)

• National Raptor Coordinator for BirdLife Malta (since 1997)

• Maintains the Official Malta Bird Checklist for BirdLife Malta [link to checklist]

• Administrator of the Malta Bird Sightings Database

• Editorial Board Member for Il-Merill and the annual Malta Bird Report​​

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Alongside these roles, Edward has authored and contributed to a number of ornithological papers and publications in leading European journals. At heart, however, he remains a dedicated field birder with a particular interest in migration, raptors, bird identification, and ageing. He especially enjoys sharing memorable sightings and the excitement of discovering rare birds with fellow birders.

As guiding is offered alongside his professional career, expeditions are available on a selective, pre-booked basis. This allows Malta Birding Expeditions to provide a personal, well-organised, and knowledgeable guiding experience tailored to individual visitors and small groups.