Hunters in trouble over bird trophies

A number of hunters are expected to be arraigned after the police allegedly found them in possession of some rather macabre trophies - body parts of protected birds hanging from their cars' rear view mirrors or used as key chains.

Among such items confiscated by the police were legs of herons, honey buzzards and small falcons and the heads of birds of prey, police Inspector Alexander Miruzzi told The Times.

The possession of protected species, whether in whole or in part, is prohibited.

"We get some six cases a year like this and if the bird is strictly protected, the minimum fine is Lm100," Inspector Miruzzi said.

Police officers from the administrative law enforcement (ALE) unit continue with their patrols in an effort to curb illegal hunting.

"A spoonbill was spotted at the Ghadira reserve on Tuesday. It stayed there for a few hours. We went there as soon as we were informed about it and within minutes familiar faces started cropping up to check whether they would be able to have a go at it.

"Our task is not easy. It is an uphill struggle. This year we have nabbed the same number of hunters as we did last year. I don't know if this is positive or negative. I believe that time has to pass before we know whether substantial progress is being made or not.

"What I am sure about is that we cannot let a day go by without showing we are still around. If we receive a report about illegal hunting and do nothing about it because we are caught up with other work, the following day we will receive 10 reports from the same locality," he added.

Shooters have been booked for various contraventions over the past few weeks. One was seen shooting at a pigeon close to the Addolorata Cemetery, in Paola. Others were booked for being in possession of protected species and several others for shooting near inhabited areas or loading their guns with more than three cartridges.

Hunting without a licence and the use of bird callers are common offences.

"We often find bird callers buried under concrete. The devices are very small and can be activated by remote control or with the use of a timer. It is not always easy to locate them," Inspector Miruzzi admitted.

"In spite of the fines and court sentences, the law is still abused. Fines can be quite hefty and in recent cases trappers have been fined Lm300 and given a six-month suspended jail term after we caught them at the bird sanctuary in Buskett and they attacked the police who were carrying out their duty.

"Another hunter who was found hunting at sea in August was fined Lm300 and his licence suspended for a year.

"The deterrent is there. Apart from the fines, two hunters were imprisoned following hunting-related offences. One of them is still serving time," Inspector Miruzzi said. Earlier this month, the police seized 21 protected species from a hunter in Zurrieq following a raid on his home. Among the birds found in his freezer were seven birds of prey, including a peregrine falcon and a lesser kestrel, three herons, a golden oriole, a cuckoo as well as other protected species.

A pair of peregrines that were spotted breeding in Gozo have disappeared. The bird found at Zurrieq was unlikely to be one of them as it was still immature, sources said.

Police face a number of obstacles in their quest to prevent illegal hunting. The way the law is drafted makes it impossible to prosecute hunters found with unloaded guns in their covers on Sunday afternoons, when hunting is prohibited.

"Some are exploiting this loophole by keeping guns in their cars and in rooms in the countryside. As long as they are unloaded and in their covers when we inspect them we cannot do anything about it," the police officer said.