BirdLife expects 'decimation'

BirdLife has accused the government of being insensitive to the plight of migrating birds by allowing hunting in spring.

The hunting season for turtle dove and quail opens tomorrow and continues for more than eight weeks until May 22.

BirdLife said that in spite of clear indications that Malta was breaching the EU Bird's Directive, the government continued to allow a spring hunting season that would again result in the decimation of thousands of birds on their migration north.

Last year the organisation lodged a formal complaint with the EU Commission on the grounds that Malta has not yet transposed and implemented the EU Birds Directive.

By allowing a spring hunting season for turtle dove and quail, Malta continued to decimate the population of two species that have declined considerably in recent times, BirdLife said.