In just over a month, life on the Maltese Islands has changed drastically. Shops, restaurants, schools and churches have closed their doors. Social distancing and isolation is the new norm. Students and employees have adapted to working from home. Police officials roam the streets to ensure no one is breaking any measures and those in quarantine are staying at home.  Yet, despite our Health Authorities advising us to stay at home, around 6, 148 hunters are still allowed to hunt for quail this spring hunting season.

At the beginning of the month, the Ornis Committee, the government’s consultative committee on hunting, had come to the agreement of recommending the opening of 2020’s spring hunting season. Between 10 and 30 April, hunters are permitted to hunt for common quail from two hours before sunrise till 12pm every day. Hunters over the age of 65 and those listed as vulnerable persons cannot go out to hunt. All other bird species are protected, including the Turtle-dove. When the news came out that despite the threat of COVID-19 that hunting season was allowed, BirdLife Malta considered the decision to be the “most irresponsible act ever” from the Prime Minister Robert Abela.

BirdLife Malta’s Spring Watch teams are set up all over the island at particular points overlooking well-known hunting hotspots. Teams of two or four usually go and survey the area and hunters to ensure that hunters abide by regulations. Due to COVID-19, BirdLife Malta volunteers are abiding by the regulations, and now a team of not more than three go to survey the area, and also practice social distancing.

Members from The Malta Independent joined one of these teams on Tuesday and Thursday morning to monitor illegal shooting of protected species. During these two mornings, the members of the newsroom did not witness any illegalities, but got to experience and learn about the work such volunteers face every morning.

Video/Photos Alenka Falzon

A clear difference between hunting Quail and Turtle-Doves

On Tuesday morning, the crew met Nicholas Barbara, BirdLife Malta Head of Conservation and Nathaniel Attard, Communications Officer, at Dwejra Lines. In the early hours, although the sky was full of fog, a number of hunters were seen sitting and waiting amongst the greenery.  Barbara explained that the fact that the hunters were simply sitting and waiting was an indication that they were not waiting for quail. “To hunt quail, the hunter must walk and work around the area of grassland and use a dog to flush out the quail, and then shoot the bird. Here, we see them simply waiting, and when it comes to a turtle dove, you must do that, simply wait for the bird to come,” explained Barbara.

The crew and BirdLife members saw four hunters in Dwejra, but whilst there none had shot any birds, but where simply waiting or moving along with their dog.

Barbara reflects how in the past few days, there was a strong migration of Turtle Doves, and that the Spring Watch, members noted that hunters were located in places which are well-known for the passing of Turtle Doves. The volunteers have even witnessed such protected species shot down.

He also reflected that currently there is not a very strong presence of police during this Spring Hunting Season. “If there is an accident, yes they will come, but as a whole there is a lack of police presence.”

“It is very clear that the Spring Hunting Season is open in line with the migration of Turtle-Doves”

At the time of writing, it has been estimated that 33 birds were legally shot down this Spring Hunting Season. Between 18-24 April, Birdlife Malta and police have recovered 23 of these which is more than three known illegally shot protected birds a day. 11 of these are Turtle-Doves, which confirms what BirdLife Malta has been saying that the opening of the Spring Hunting season is during the peak migration of Turtle-Doves. “This all but a smokescreen for hunters to shot down protected Turtle-Doves, and 99% that is what these hunters here today are doing also,” explained Barbara.

During this time, a large number of other bird species are also seen migrating over the Maltese Islands, and BirdLife have retrieved a number of illegally shot protected birds. “Numerous individuals have called us reporting that they found a shot down protected bird, and we would then come collect this bird, and take it to the vet,” explained Barbara. He said that the large number of hunters who are out with little supervision is just an invitation for them to shot down more birds.

Public have reported the increasing sound of gunshots; yet nothing can be done about it

The crew once more joined BirdLife Malta on Thursday morning, this time at Santa Lucija, where unlike in Dwejra, one could not see the hunters but could surely hear them. Joined once more with Barbara, this time volunteer Nimrod Mifsud and an extra-duty police officer were checking for illegal shooting. Mifsud explained that they had been filming and supervising since 4am, and that whilst one could not see the hunters, the shots echoed through the darkness.

As the sky got clearer, one could see a large number of birds flying and both Mifsud and Barbara pointed out the species of those birds migrating. The Malta Independent also heard and witnessed shots targeted specifically at certain birds; yet none (which both the crew and BirdLife members) saw shot down.

After Santa Lucija, in separate cars, the crew and BirdLife members drove to Addolorata Cemetery, in Paola, where the fields surrounding the cemetery are known to be an area frequented by hunters.

Saga between BirdLife Malta and police

Earlier this week, BirdLife Malta had presented a criminal complaint to police, saying that the hunting licences for quail during the spring season were illegally issued by the Gozo Ministry.

Gozo Minister, Clint Camilleri, a hunter and trapper, was given responsibility for the Wild Birds Regulation Unit (WBRU) earlier this year; despite the fact that under EU law it is the environment ministry that should regulate affairs relating to hunting and trapping birds. BirdLife Malta CEO Mark Sultana expressed that Abela is worse than previous Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, when it comes to environmental issues.

The Government’s reaction to the criminal complaint was that the government believes that such a request is “baseless and not appropriate.” The hunter’s federation (FKNK) on Wednesday said it requested an urgent meeting with the police. On Thursday it was announced that the police have dismissed the complaint, as after close examination it had concluded that “there were no grounds for action”.

BirdLife said it will seek advice on the best way to forward the issue at the law courts. Despite the difficulties BirdLife face, members and volunteers continue to survey, report and file action against illegalities; whilst also safeguarding and protecting both local and foreign bird species.