Reports of illegal hunting 'tip of the iceberg'

Reports of injured or dead protected birds have been pouring into BirdLife's offices, amid claims that the number of alerts merely represents the tip of the iceberg.

"By sanctioning spring hunting of turtle dove and quail in direct breach of the EU law, the government has created a blanket season for hunters to shoot protected species before they are about to reproduce in their breeding grounds in Europe," BLM executive director Tolga Temuge said.

"This may not be the Government's intention but it is the stark reality," he insisted.

Since the opening of the spring hunting season, BirdLife has been receiving regular reports. Over the last 10 days, three marsh harriers, one swift, a greenshank and two kestrels were taken to BirdLife's offices or handed to the police.

Even a dead racing pigeon, with a ring showing that it pertained to a Hamrun club, was taken to BirdLife. All incidents were reported to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and the police.

The police in Gozo and BirdLife were also informed that another dead protected bird was placed in a bag and hooked to the door of the SPCA office in Gozo.

Ornithologist Joe Sultana, who was contacted to identify the ring on the kestrel, established that it had been ringed under a scheme of the Zoology Museum in Helsinki, Finland.

A badly injured greenshank found in Golden Bay with lead pellets lodged in its head was taken to the Ghadira Nature Reserve where it died of its wounds.

Meanwhile, a birdwatcher told The Sunday Times that a Pallid Harrier was gunned down in Dingli yesterday afternoon, while hunters were also seen on shooting at honey buzzards and several Montagu's harriers which flew over the area.

"The numbers of the shot down protected species that we are aware of represent only the tip of the iceberg," Mr Temuge said.

BirdLife said it is ironic to see that the Maltese government is talking about controlling illegal hunting while it is violating the Birds Directive by allowing hunting in spring. It questioned how the police could curb illegalities with a mere 27 Administrative Law Enforcement officers.

During a news conference on Friday, Assistant Police Commissioner Josie Brincat, however, insisted that hunting and trapping abuses were on the decline thanks to better monitoring.

While appreciating the police's work, Mr Temuge on the other hand stressed that the hunters were well-organised and equipped to dodge the law.

"From the number of reports we're receiving, there's no significant decline in illegalities. We need undercover (police) teams and much stiffer fines if we are to see a real reduction in infringements," Mr Temuge suggested.