Many young birds die because of breeders’ stupidity.

One of the problems bird breeders have to face every year is the loss of fledglings. This is because they have to ring their fledglings within three days after they are hatched, otherwise the ring will not attach itself to their legs. I have noticed that after ringing the fledglings, their parents will try to remove the ring and most of the time the baby birds fall out of their nest and die. Other birds can’t stand having their nest touched and will abandon it immediately.

I believe that something has to be done to save these birds. They can be ringed by an authorised person when they are big enough to fend for themselves.

We have many organizations such as BLM, FKNK and many others that can do this job, while keeping a record of the birds bred on our islands every year and the type of birds that are kept in captivity.

I hope that the minister responsible for the protection of animals will take my comment into consideration and save these birds.

Frans Buhagiar