An Italian scientist working on a study about bird migration in Malta believes the government can obtain a derogation on spring hunting "if this is correctly worded".

Speaking to The Times, Giuseppe Micali said that during a short visit here he had the opportunity to speak to a number of hunters and trappers and was convinced that "Malta could get away with it". He said, however, there was no other EU country that allowed spring hunting.

Brussels has repeatedly warned the government against spring hunting and trapping and even started infringement procedures over the matter last July.

Dr Micali forms part of a small team of people coordinated by a French scientist, Jean Claude Ricci, who has been commissioned by the government to draw up a report to back up its arguments with Brussels over spring hunting.

Dr Micali said he saw very few birds during his excursions but had heard there were some good days last week when some hunters and trappers made good bags. "But these are isolated cases and most people I met had trapped or shot just a single bird," he said.

As he was about to reply to a question about whether he had seen any illegal hunting, a roller, a protected colourful bird, flew past and was shot at three times but was not killed.

I have seen other protected birds that were not shot. This is the first time in my life I've seen a roller. It's a protected bird and it should not be shot. These things should not happen, he said.

Dr Micali said trapping of turtle doves "is part of Malta's cultural heritage and should be preserved".

The study that is being undertaken under the guidance of Prof. Ricci has come under fire from BirdLife Malta.

The Environment Ministry had suggested that bird watchers should participate in the study and should accompany hunters who would be making notes about the number of turtle doves and quails seen. But BirdLife said the government wanted to conduct the study to justify spring hunting that was illegal under EU rules.

BirdLife also criticised the methodology proposed by Prof. Ricci, arguing that the survey design was heavily skewed in favour of spring hunting.

BirdLife International and the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) also criticised Prof. Ricci's methodology saying "the entire proposal is so badly written it is not clear what is actually being proposed".

With the spring hunting season in its peak, bird watchers have been reporting cases of illegal hunting practically on a daily basis.

The Federation for Hunting and Conservation has been insisting on hunters to stick to the law and shoot only at quail and turtle doves. Yet, bird watchers have been reporting instances of shooting of birds of prey as well as colourful birds such as bee eaters and golden orioles. Only last week, the police found a 19-year-old hunter with two freshly-killed bee eaters and another hunter was found in possession of a dead hoopoe by soldiers on a patrol.

A large number of hunters are, however, refraining from shooting at protected birds and large birds of prey such as harriers that could be seen in many localities last week.

One bird watcher told The Times that whereas before, most hunters shot at birds of prey, one could notice that some were refraining from shooting at them.

"I would say that, whereas last year if a harrier flew past, 20 hunters most of them would shoot at it, only three would do so today. Still, those three would end up killing it and very often not even bother to pick it up because of the hefty fines contemplated. This senseless killing has to stop," he said.

Contacted for a reaction, Lino Farrugia, from the hunters' federation, said his organisation could note a sharp drop in illegal hunting, both because of the fines contemplated and also because of "our appeals that we risk losing hunting because of illegal hunting".

Asked about the report about the situation, Mr Farrugia said this was commissioned by the government and was aimed at seeing both the number of birds that migrate and what was bagged as well as compare the number of birds migrating in both spring and autumn. The study will cover two years.

There was a public call for those who wish to take part in these observations. "We are cooperating but BirdLife want to be difficult," Mr Farrugia said.