BirdLife Malta yesterday took up an offer by the Federazzjoni Kaccaturi Nassaba Konservazzjonisti (FKNK) and invited the organisation to its offices to view the latest fatality of illegal spring hunting.

The FKNK has accused BirdLife of fabricating their reports of dead or injured birds being brought to their offices, despite the fact that all such instances were also reported to the Malta Environmental and Planning Authority and the police.

Last month, the FKNK had alleged that photographs of dead and injured protected birds were no more than public relations ploys and that the birds photographed could very well have been frozen and brought out of storage for display at opportune moments.

Yesterday, however, FKNK officials were shown a Marsh Harrier with a shot wound in its wing at BirdLife’s offices. The protected bird had been found in Gozo, was handed over to the Victoria police station, and was eventually turned over to BirdLife yesterday.

FKNK secretary-general Lino Farrugia had recently requested BirdLife, through the media, to inform the FKNK when dead or injured birds were brought in to their offices.

Speaking yesterday, BirdLife Malta executive director Tolga Temuge commented: “We had never heard of such a request before but we immediately accepted his offer and I personally called him to come and see the Marsh Harrier that was shot in Gozo.

“Since FKNK is accusing our organisation of fabricating these reports, we even have a report from a veterinarian confirming that the bird was shot.”

Mr Farrugia had also remarked that when there was a verifiable case of illegal hunting, the Federation would condemn the case after having made its own verifications. As such, one would expect such a condemnation, on at least this particular case, in the near future.

Overall, BirdLife reports over 200 sightings of illegal hunting since the spring hunting season on turtledove and quail opened on 10 April. No fewer than 22 protected birds, either already dead or needing to be put down, have been handed in to BirdLife, although the hunting season is not yet one month old.

Some 40 individuals have been charged so far with illegal hunting, under a raft of new, stiff penalties and fines applicable to the practice.

“The Hunters’ Federation knows the scale of illegal hunting on the islands. If FKNK is really serious about putting an end to illegal hunting, they should start with honouring the agreement between BirdLife International and FACE (European Hunters Federation) and endorse the Birds Directive,” Mr Temuge added. “They should also be ready to cancel the licences of FKNK members who are caught hunting illegally.”

BirdLife announced yesterday that the red-footed falcon that had been found on 3 May had died the following day, despite efforts to save it, and a bee-eater found over the weekend had also died as a result of severe shot wounds. Both birds are protected species.