I feel compelled to write to you concerning the visit to Malta by Chris Packham and the misleading propaganda portrayed in his YouTube  series ‘Massacre on Migration’.

For those not conversant with hunting in Malta the short spring hunting season, which is legal under Maltese and EU law, consists of nineteen half days, and permits the shooting of a maximum of 11,000 turtle doves and 5,000 quail (this season). This is a miniscule quota when compared to the estimated 3 million quail and 2 – 3 million turtle doves shot every year in the remaining EU countries. It can therefore be concluded that the shooting of these species on Malta has an insignificant effect on the overall European population.

Furthermore Mr Packham has implied that the decline in the UK turtle dove population can be partly blamed upon the Spring shooting of turtle doves on Malta. This is not the case.

Scientific research (Browne and Aebischer) carried out here in the UK has concluded that the decline in the UK turtle dove population is almost entirely due to changes in farming practices.

Mr Packham has been quoted in the press as stating that in Malta “millions” of protected birds are blasted out of the sky every spring hunting season. This is downright misleading and factually incorrect. Mr Packham provides no evidence whatsoever to back up his spurious claims.

During this Spring hunting season I happened to be on Malta and accepted an invitation from a Maltese hunting friend to accompany him whilst hunting. On many mornings I observed numerous birds including golden orioles, bee eaters, various kinds of birds of prey and many other species, some of which I recognised and some I did not recognise, passing over the area. In this area there were many hunters and not one shot rang out. In fact very few shots were taken as the numbers of quarry species passing were extremely few. No wildlife crime whatsoever was committed, the law being adhered to at all times.

I can only state that in my experience Maltese hunters are law abiding.

Philip Sword

Newcastle upon Tyne, UK