Friday, 28th March 2008 - 11:39CET
Rare visitor at Ghadira bird sanctuary - BirdLife reacts to comments
A Eurasian Spoonbill has been spotted resting at the Ghadira Nature Reserve, a rarity for Malta, Birdlife said. Fewer than 5,000 pairs can be found within the European Union (EU) and in some years none was seen in Malta.
The Eurasian Spoonbill is a Species of Conservation Concern and is given extra protection under the law. Serious international conservation efforts have however seen an increase in its population in recent years.
Those wishing to try to catch a glimpse of this rare visitor can try their luck this weekend, although the bird may chose to move on to its European breeding grounds at any given moment. The Ghadira Nature Reserve is open on the weekends between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and entrance is free of charge.
In a reaction to comments carried below, BirdLife issued the following statement:
"BirdLife Malta would like to clarify that it is very sad that the reaction to such a beautiful image and rare opportunity for lovers of nature is met with fear by members of the public rather than joy. The organization would like to state that just as the birding community is immediately alerted to the appearance of a species of particular interest on our islands, so too is the hunting community and it is certainly not through the release of this photo. We encourage the public to take this opportunity to witness this spectacle of nature this weekend, should the bird not have left for its European breeding grounds and still be at the Ghadira Nature Reserve."
Photo by Christopher Cachia Zammit
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Comments
Birdlife did well to inform the public. It gave people like me a chance to go and observe this wonderful creature, about whose visit i wuld certainly have not known about.
Not informing the public about this coz of the hunters is not the way to do it. Informing the public AND insisting upon police protection was the right decision.
Well done Birdlife, keep up the good work!
Such is the splendour of the Maker of this planet. Thank you Birdlife Malta. When I grew up over there, I never got to see and experience such things, it saddens me to say. I hope that
Maltese children today, rather than being brainwashed at school, will instead be a little luckier. Potentially the Maltese Isles can have large numbers and large varieties of these transitory visitors on a seasonal basis if the Maltese government were to stop collecting gun license fees, restore natural waterways, establish a forestry department and promote education. It is far more challenging to shoot with a camera and make a documentary, than to shoot with a gun and stuff or cook the animal. The former is creative, while the latter is atavistic.
I think it was a good idea to publicise this. In this way the bird is now in the news and is at the centre of public attention more than it would have been otherwise. Which means that the outcry if it is shot down will be even greater. I mean, imagine someone proposing to allow Knut the polar bear to die after he had become famous - no chance!
So any hunter in a slightly right sense will definately think twice befroe pressing that trigger.
Just think about it. If it does get shot it will not be any, whatever bird which would have been hit but a bird which we know the name of and have even see a photo of. Don't you think you'd want to see justice done to the killer even more than ever?
Its part of the pleasure in observing nature and its educational. It also shows that reserves and conservation works.
It is not the problem of birdlife that we have opportunistic poachers roaming about the countryside, but of law enforcement and it is no solution to the problem for birdlife to simply stay quiet and not "advertise" such occurence as some asserted.
Hasher penalties needed for shooting at such beautiful creatures and certainly these fies and penalties be published so hunters get second doubts when thinking of shooting such birds.
Please once and for all, let us have fines related to crime, once gone such a bird, there is no coming back.
I would , with such a photo include anyone shooting down this bird is liable to a fine for ...how much €?
Hope the fine will not as ridiculous as that for hoarding explosives.
What BirdLife has done was is actually protecting the bird NOT endanger it.
Thank you for teaching us how to behave.
May I suggest that, before preaching to us Maltese, you try to get to know us.
Should you do that, I'm sure you'll discover that our rambos are a tiny minorty just as your own rambos.
And feedback on my appeal for Police protection (see below). Have the boys in blue shown up yet at Ghadira Bird Sanctuary?
It will then read "Rare Spoonbill shot at Ghadira".
And wanna guess that then all investigations will come to the same result as usual: The responsible hunter could not be identified.
What's up with BirdLife? Are you guys with the hunters? Fly off to a safer haven you majestic creature before you meet the wrath of some barbaric hunter/s!
In fact I seriously call upon the Police Commissioner to assign 24 hour police protection.
Why not? To me the spoonbill deserves it and I would consider my Tax Euros as well spent.