Silent bird songs

A lot has been written recently about the hunting issue in Malta and I would like to comment on this from a tourist's point of view.

One of the first things I noticed on my first ever trip to Gozo was that an alarm clock was totally unnecessary because as soon as dawn broke the shooting started.

The second thing I noticed was in stark contrast to the first and that was total silence when out in the countryside for a walk. I don't mean lack of traffic noise by the way but lack of bird song. When I'm in Gozo I always go to the Bellusa Café in Victoria at about 5.20 p.m. Joe brings me a Cisk and I listen to the birds settling in the trees opposite in the market square.

I live in N. Ireland and it's so nice to hear the birds singing in the countryside and along the shorefront. I find it really sad that Gozo has been robbed of this beautiful sound in order that hunters can enjoy their hobby. My uncle for many years was one of the best shots in N. Ireland and indeed on several occasions he was selected as captain of the N. Ireland team.

His hobby was clay pigeon shooting. My suggestion, therefore, is not that the shooters on Malta and Gozo give up their hobby but that they switch to clay pigeons instead. One thing I have noticed on my numerous trips to Gozo is the competitiveness between the various villages.

Wouldn't it be great if all the hunters from each village formed a clay pigeon club and organised competitions between the villages?

With the same thing taking place on Malta, the two winning teams could compete each year for the overall title.

Then, of course, there would be the possibility of putting together a national team to compete in international shoots.

So how about it guys, is this a valid suggestion or not? As you know the hunting fraternity is very much in the minority. Rather than fighting with the non-hunting majority why not come together in a true and very competitive sport that everyone can respect and support? Over time, hopefully, nature would take her course and Gozo would once again be enveloped in the beautiful sound of birds singing.