Just one of eight storks survives hunters' barrage

A sole surviving stork from a flock of eight was seen weaving a lonely flight path over Ta' Qali yesterday after the flock was decimated by hunters on Monday.

Two hunters in their 20s were arrested on Monday soon after they allegedly shot two of the storks in Mellieha.

Eight white storks were noted by birdwatchers flying low over the Mellieha ridge at about 2 p.m. that day and as the storks disappeared behind the Red Tower, a barrage of shots rang out. Only six storks were then seen.

Reports later reached The Times that storks were seen being shot at in Marsascala, Delimara and Is-Salib ta' l-Gholja in the limits of Siggiewi on Monday evening.

As the flock passed over various localities it dropped in size, until a single bird was spotted yesterday morning. It first settled at the airport, then flew off and alighted on a crane at Malta Shipbuilding, flying away again shortly after. It was then seen flying over Ta' Qali and there have been no other sightings since. Two hunters were seen in a red car and a grey van in Mellieha on Monday and administrative law enforcement unit police officers were alerted.

The unit, which deals mainly with environmental crimes, has been depleted because policemen serving there were transferred to the mobile squad as soon as the hunting season closed. It was only by a stroke of luck that several ALE policemen were at the office on their return from a court sitting when the report came in.

Sources said that on arrival in Mellieha, the police found a hunter carrying a shotgun and arrested him. Another hunter was arrested soon after.

A third hunter was held later as it was suspected he too was involved in shooting the storks. A number of live blue rock thrushes, the national bird of Malta, which is protected by law, were allegedly found at his home.

The sources said a search in the house of one of the first two hunters arrested, yielded a red-footed falcon and a bee-eater, also protected by law. He was also allegedly found in possession of heavy gauge cartridges, the possession and use of which is illegal.

One of those arrested is believed to have admitted to shooting at the storks but the police have not managed to find any of the dead birds so far.

Storks are not a specially protected species and the fine for killing them ranges between Lm50 and Lm500. The court is not obliged to confiscate the shotgun if a conviction is secured, even if the offence is committed during the closed season. It is only in the case of those convicted a second time that the court is in duty bound to confiscate the shotgun.

Having said that, the white stork is regarded with affection in many European countries and its large nests can be seen even in city centres.

Standing over a metre tall and with a wingspan of about two metres, it is a huge bird that is easily identifiable. Across Europe, their nests can be found on rooftops, towers, chimneys, telephone poles, walls, haystacks and specially constructed nest towers. Many homeowners encourage storks to nest on their houses.

According to legend white storks deliver babies and protect houses against fire.

Ringing records indicate that storks can live and reproduce successfully for over 30 years in the wild.

BirdLife Malta condemned the killing, adding that the news came in with press reports that the police had stopped their patrols and that the ALE had been assigned work with the CID mobile squad.

"It is unbelievable and unacceptable that the authorities stop their patrols so soon after the hunting season is over. BirdLife Malta is gravely concerned at this lack of concern by the authorities especially in the face of continued illegal hunting throughout the spring.

"The police know well enough that apart from illegal hunting during the hunting season there are also hunters who persist in hunting also in the closed season and the police have an important role in continuing to act as a deterrent," BirdLife said. It asked whether it was true that new trapping licences had been issued after the moratorium on trapping licences was imposed. The Belgian Bird Protection Society noted with regret that illegal hunting continued even during the closed season.

"The news that hunters shot at a flock of eight migrating storks shows that hunters just cannot control their urge to pull a trigger and kill birds. These birds breed all over Europe and people spend a lot of money to save them, only to have some of them shot by hunters here. This is totally unacceptable.

"This also shows that the only sensible way to control hunting in spring is to stop it altogether, as we are trying to do along with several BirdLife partners.

"If hunters cannot control themselves by shooting at storks in the closed season, how can they be trusted with being allowed to shoot in spring when there are so many birds of prey and other protected birds around," the society's Jan Rodts said.

The society asked people to continue signing their petition online to stop bird hunting in spring by sending an e-mail to Info@vogelbescherming.be.