At least 49 protected birds were confirmed to have been illegally shot since the start of the autumn hunting season between September and mid-November, with half of all protected birds that were shot being Common Kestrels, BirdLife Malta has said.
In a video message on Facebook, the NGO said that illegal hunting has continued to surge this autumn, with at least 49 protected birds confirmed as victims in the first two and a half months of the hunting season.
BirdLife said that September alone saw at least 19 protected birds that government veterinarians confirmed had been illegally shot, a figure which since then has now risen by a further 30 birds.
Short-eared owl - Zurrieq
These include: Audouin’s Gull from Salina, on 7 October, Black-headed Gull from Xgħajra, on 7 October, Common Kestrel from Marsaskala, on 10 October, Common Shelduck from Salina, on 15 October, Common Kestrel from l-Imġarr, on 16 October, Common Kestrel from Wied is-Sewda, on 20 October, Common Kestrel from Kalkara, on 22 October, Common Kestrel from Xlendi, on 23 October, Common Kestrel from Ħal Għaxaq, on 24 October, Eurasian Hobby from Żejtun, on 24 October, Common Kestrel from Marsalforn, Gozo, on 25 October, Black-headed Gull from Żonqor, on 25 October, Common Kestrel from Dwejra, Gozo, on 26 October, Common Kestrel from Żebbuġ, Gozo, on 28 October, Common Kestrel from Għasri, Gozo, on 31 October, Saker Falcon from Żebbuġ, Gozo, on 3 November, Common Kestrel from Siġġiewi, on 4 November, Short-eared Owl from Żurrieq, on 12 November, and a Barn-owl forming part of the FKNK reintroduction project, aimed at returning this species to the wild, from Buskett on 18 November.
In addition to these cases, BirdLife said that 11 other birds were collected by the police from the Environmental Protection Unit (EPU).
Eurasian hobby - Zejtun
These included a Common Kestrel from Ta' Santi in 8 October, a Grey Heron from Birżebbuġa on 11 October, a Little Egret from San Ġwann on 16 October, a Yellow-legged Gull from Gozo on 16 October, a Common Kestrel in Manikata on 21 October, three Collared-doves in Attard on 21 October, a Common Kestrel in Mosta on 25 October, a Common Kestrel in Żebbuġ on 26 October, and a Common Kestrel in Gozo on 26 October.
BirdLife said that as was the case in the first month of the open autumn hunting season, half of all the protected birds that were shot were Common Kestrels (spanjuletti).
It also put emphasis on the shooting of a Saker Falcon, which is the largest falcon species to visit Malta and a species facing global decline.
The NGO said that since the species is only seen a handful of times a year in Malta, the loss of even a single bird poses a serious setback to international efforts to prevent its extinction.
"None of these birds are on the list of the 40 species that hunters are permitted to shoot," BirdLife said, adding that the cases only reflect birds collected by the organisation or by police.
Common kestrel - Mgarr
"Many others go unreported for various reasons, including because they are never found, or are retrieved by those who shot them, or end up taxidermized in some display," the NGO said.
Describing these incidents as "environmental crimes with a significant impact on both migratory and resident birds," the NGO said the government has a national and international obligation to prevent these offences and to condemn them robustly when they occur, rather than continuing to weaken the laws that were originally designed to protect wild birds.
BirdLife said that wildlife crime continues to place immense pressure on migratory and resident species, and stronger enforcement remains essential.
Photos: BirdLife,Malta
Common kestrel - Marsalforn