The last days’ inclement weather had brought a large amount of migrant birds to the Maltese Islands, as can be expected during the migration season, as the birds are moving back to Europe to breed. With the increase of birds, so came the reports of indiscriminate illegal hunting across Malta and Gozo. Hundreds of Bee Eaters fell victim to illegal hunting along with other birds such as Grey and Purple Herons, Golden Orioles, Lesser Kestrels and others from all over the islands. During the press conference several dead and injured birds that were collected over the past week were exhibited.
On Monday evening a major passage of Honey Buzzards occurred in the afternoon. Starting from the south of Malta, flocks of Honey Buzzards of even up to 300 birds at a time were seen converging onto wooded or forested areas. Reports of illegal hunting were received from Marsa, Addolorata Cemetery area, Tal-Handaq, Wardija, San Pawl tat-Targa, Siggiewi, Chadwick Lakes, Buskett environs etc.
Some birdwatchers recorded over 1,000 birds seen, while reports of shot Honey Buzzards amounted to 55 (Buskett environs), 40 (Chadwick Lakes) and 30 (San Pawl tat-Targa).
Some 20,000 birds of prey are estimated to migrate through Maltese territory every migration season.
BirdLife Malta is informed that 10 police officers have been assigned bird protection duties in Gozo and 28 in Malta. BirdLife Malta notes that these police officers are giving their worth in gold and doing their utmost to control the situation, but in the prevailing circumstances they were overwhelmed by the extent of the illegal hunting.
This shows that the attempt of the Maltese government to “please the hunters by allowing a derogation for hunting and trapping turtle doves and quails in spring has failed”, the organisation said. BirdLife Malta had foreseen that the derogation would only serve as a loophole to allow the illegal massacre of protected birds and for the second spring in succession it was proved right. BirdLife Malta therefore calls on the Maltese government to withdraw the derogation.