At least eight protected birds shot in first week of hunting season

At least eight protected birds were illegally shot in the first week of the spring hunting season, Birdlife Malta said yesterday. The shot species included Marsh Harriers, a Common Kestrel, a Common Swift, a Barn Swallow and Hoopoes.

“In all of the cases in which BirdLife Malta was called to assist, the birds were certified as having suffered gunshot injuries, with four of them succumbing to their injuries after they were shot down. More than half of these illegally shot birds were retrieved just over the last weekend alone from different parts of Malta and Gozo. It is now clear from this week’s events that year after year, spring hunting seasons keep being abused, with protected birds being indiscriminately and illegally shot at and killed,” Birdlife said.

“Once again, an open spring hunting season is proving to be a smokescreen for those who shoot protected birds with little or no enforcement. In view of this BirdLife Malta reiterates its call on the government to close the 2017 spring hunting season with immediate effect.”

It said that the fact that all of these shot birds were retrieved from different localities across Malta and Gozo “clearly indicates that illegalities are widespread across the country during the current open spring hunting season.”

One needs to keep in mind that these retrieved injured birds represent only a fraction of the illegal hunting which is actually happening in the countryside, the organization added.

Illegalities and cases of injured birds should be reported to the police on 119 and to BirdLife Malta by calling 2134 7645/6 during office hours or our hotline 7925 5697 during evenings and weekends.