BirdLife calls on PM to ‘stop the massacre’
After two shot herons, a protected species, were received by BirdLife Malta last Friday, the organisation yesterday reported it had received yet another two shot protected birds, including the first bird of prey of the season, which was shot this morning.
In a statement, BirdLife called on the Prime Minister to “intervene and stop the massacre.”
BirdLife said in a statement: “We call on Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Minister Jose Herrera and Parliamentary Secretary Clint Camilleri to intervene and stop this massacre.
“We also seriously hope that the government is not in any way considering reducing hunting fines...it should instead put more effort and show some serious commitment to protecting birds which are presently migrating over Malta.”
With yesterday’s European beeeater (Qerd in-Naħal) recovered from Marsaskala and today’s Marsh Harrier (Bagħdan Aħmar) which was found by a cyclist on the road between Mġarr and Għajn Tuffieħ, BirdLife reports a total number of six known shot protected birds this autumn hunting season. The season has only been open for 10 days, since Friday, 1 September.
BirdLife explains: “Before today’s Marsh Harrier, since the start of the season, we recovered three European bee-eaters, a Grey Heron and a Night Heron.
“Although this is the first raptor to be received by BirdLife Malta this season, these numbers are just an indication of the number of birds being shot illegally during the hunting season. Another bird of prey was in fact reported to the police having been shot down in Saqqajja this morning.
“The fact that we have received a raptor this weekend does not bode well for the expected peak in the migration of raptors expected in the coming weeks.”