This saying was coined when bomber crews were flying back over Nazi-occupied Europe to bases in the United Kingdom.

It is easy to understand where they came up with the phrase – flights of up to six hours, being shot at by anti-aircraft fire the entire time – hence getting back with damaged wings and the accompanying prayers.

This is the same fate that birds suffer in this country – a massively long migration flight – only to be blasted out of the sky. Hunting has once again come to the fore and has become a hot issue, with hunters who are members of the Federation of Hunters Trappers and Conservationists saying that they are ready to take to the streets if they are not told what is happening with Legal Notice 79 of 2006.

The FKNK has long tried to soften its image, but then comes out and stamps its feet when it does not get its way. When one takes into account the messages posted on the FKNK forum aimed at Environment Pullicino, which were truly awful, the tone is pretty much set. However, if the hunters’ claims that their personal vehicles were damaged in relation to their hunting activities, this is also to be condemned.

The federation cannot expect the public to change its views when it goes on record and says: “…whenever we want, we are prepared to show Castille what a protest is.”

To put this into context, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds presented 115,000 protest signatures in a calm and orderly manner. Are the people supposed to take this as a veiled threat? It certainly sounds like it.

To be fair, one must concede that the hunters do have a point – they do have a right to know what is going on. Uncertainty is not pleasant and the government should tell them where they stand.

However, they must also realise that they do not garner any sympathy at all by going on record in the national press saying that they have members who are having to seek medical and psychiatric advice because they are depressed and what not.

There are people in this country who have gone through far worse – losing their jobs and such, never mind hunters who are worried that they will not be allowed to shoot birds in the spring.

Labour leader Alfred Sant recently spoke out on the issue and said that a balance must be found between those who want to continue hunting and those who love nature. He went on to say that the government was stuttering over the issue and that people had to be realistic and accept that once the next general election is over, the EU Birds Directive will be truly implemented.

That is a very strong statement indeed – for both sides, and one would have to say that Dr Sant is right on both accounts, even though the vast majority of the population would like to see hunting banned outright.

It seems like the issue is too close to a general election to be addressed without serious political repercussions. Perhaps after the election, we will have a clear position – one way or another. We’ll get there, on a wing and a prayer.