In reference to the letter entitled Economical with the truth (TMID, 3 September) and signed by C. Galea, BirdLife Malta states the following regarding the claims made by the author about the timing of the photograph of the shot Night Heron.

The bird was reported to BirdLife Malta on Tuesday, 28 August. The bird was severely injured and barely alive and unfortunately, the bird succumbed to its fatal injuries very shortly afterwards and was brought in to BirdLife’s offices dead. All this information has been appropriately documented and reports on this latest incident were sent to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and the Administrative Law Enforcement section on 29 August.

As a result, your correspondent can see that the bird was indeed gunned down just before the opening of the hunting season.

Marija Schranz

Communications Coordinator

BirdLife (Malta)