If you've ever stopped at Wied iż-Żurrieq at night and heard what sounded like a baby crying somewhere in the dark, you’re not alone. In fact, one local recently shared their eerie encounter in a now-viral Facebook post:
Yesterday evening, a local had a chilling experience while visiting Wied iż-Żurrieq. On a post in the popular Facebook group ‘Are you being served’, Necowda Formosa described how, while stopping to enjoy a meal she’d picked up, she heard what sounded like a baby crying somewhere nearby. Alarmed and confused, sged returned home feeling deeply unsettled and even contacted the authorities to report what she believed was a distressing situation.
But fear not – what she heard was Scopoli’s Shearwater, known in Maltese as iċ-ċiefa, one of Malta’s most fascinating and mysterious seabirds.
The Scopoli’s Shearwater, a large seabird with striking grey and white plumage, is known for its unmistakable, wailing call that echoes across Malta’s cliffs during its summer breeding season. The call is so haunting it’s often mistaken for a human baby’s cry, and in the past, it gave rise to ghost stories and superstitions about cursed cliffs and restless spirits.
If you're brave – or curious – enough to hear the eerie chorus yourself, some of the best places to experience this natural soundscape include Wied iż-Żurrieq, Dwejra, or the cliffs near Xlendi.
These areas are far from the glow of urban light and noise – a perfect setting for these sensitive birds to nest, and for you to witness their moonlit concert. Here’s an important tip: don’t bring along any flashlights or loud music – light and sound pollution disturb the birds and can threaten their ability to breed.
Even though Scopoli’s Shearwaters are considered common around the Maltese Islands, they are still vulnerable to human activity. Their nesting grounds are protected under the EU Birds Directive and designated as Natura 2000 sites — but they remain at risk due to light pollution and sound disturbance, as well as invasive species, and litter in marine areas.
Thanks to organisations like ERA Malta and dedicated conservation efforts, hundreds of these seabirds are monitored and protected during breeding season, but public awareness still plays a key role.
So the next time you're near the coast at night and hear a chilling cry from the darkness – don’t panic! You’ve just encountered one of Malta’s wildest and most wonderful mysteries. Just be sure to give them space, keep quiet, and leave the ghost stories to the past.
Have you ever heard the eerie call?