Thus far, 16 protected birds have been registered as having been illegally shot this Autumn hunting season, BirdLife Malta has indicated.

Posting on Facebook, BirdLife Malta highlighted that earlier today, they received a call informing them that an injured bird was noticed on the roof of an apartment block in Sliema. "Upon arriving on site, we found a Purple Heron (Russett Aħmar) which was stranded and unable to fly."

"The bird, which had visible injuries, was taken to the government vet who has just confirmed that it was in fact shot. This becomes the 16th known illegally shot protected bird we and the police have recovered since the start of the Autumn Hunting season 2018 on 1st September. The season will remain upon until the end of January 2019."

Animal Rights Parliamentary Secretary Clint Camilleri had, before the hunting season started, said that no irresponsible action will be tolerated and enforcement will be rigorous.

Hunting can take place from two hours before sunrise to two hours after sunset between Monday and Saturday, and until 1pm on Sundays and public holidays. Hunting from land will not be allowed from 7pm onwards between 15 September and 7 October.

In August, BirdLife Malta had said that 2018 could be the worst year for illegal hunting.

BirdLife Malta has written to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, asking him to delay the start of the hunting season until 15 October. BirdLife Malta had argued that postponing it would have sent a clear message "that flagrant abuse, such as the recent massacre of White Storks, will not be tolerated any longer."

 "If the government does not make the message clear as it did in 2015, then more birds are going to be needlessly killed," the NGO had said in August.