Monday, 14th April 2008 - 13:13CET

BirdLife Spring Watch camp kicks off

Over 150 people from all walks of life joined BirdLife Malta's Spring Watch teams for a stroll in the countryside, "this being the first spring without hunting since Malta joined the European Union in 2004," BirdLife said.

Numerous environmental organisations joined ornithologists participating in BirdLife's Spring Watch camp for this walk, including members of the British Resident's Association, Din l-Art Helwa, Nature Trust, and the Ramblers Association.

The international ornithologists are here to document migration over this two-week period as well as to report on any illegal hunting and ttrapping activity they witness. In all, over 35 international participants will be joining Spring Watch, the first camp of its kind to be held in Malta at this time of the year.

The activity, on Sunday, started out at the Red Tower in Mellieha and took in some of the FORESTA 2000 project, which is run by BirdLife Malta, Din l-Art Helwa and the PARC Department. BirdLife Malta officials were on hand to explain interesting information on the flora and fauna that could be observed during the walk.

"This was indeed a true celebration, as many people turned up to walk through the countryside while admiring the miracle of our natural heritage undisturbed," explained Tolga Temuge, BirdLife Malta's Executive Director.

"It is clear that the Maltese people truly do appreciate their wonderful environment, when given the chance. Government must put much more effort into safe-guarding what is left of the Maltese countryside for its inhabitants and visitors to the islands to be able to enjoy to the full, now and in the future," concluded Temuge.

Photo by Chris Cachia Zammit.

Comments

Andrew Gatt (on 14/4/08)

Look here, Ray, Adrian etc. You mention laws. Right. YOU tell ME why it is so impossible to control illegal hunting....on an island 17 miles by nine!!! There are policemen, the army, umpteen birdwatchers, and the general public out there!!! Come on. Enforcement is the problem here and enforcing the law is the responsibility of the authorities. They have the manpower and the resources to do so. And please spare me the argument that hunters themselves are expected to do this themselves. Illegalities still occur - albeit much reduced - but many hunters simply want to hunt within the law in peace. It is not their job to arrest poachers and lawbreakers. Draw your own conclusions on why serious enforcement is lacking.

David Borg Cardona (on 14/4/08)

Ray, whilst I will always condemn illegal hunting, you still have no right to call hunters ruffians !!! Maybe since you are a Birdlies member you deem to have a right to insult people.

Raymond Vella (on 14/4/08)

Arrogance is taking the law into your own hands, breaking it at will and refusing to abide by laws.....I think this sums it up. Arrogant indeed! If you spent one hour out in the countryside today you would have seen arrogance at its worse!

Adrian Allain (on 14/4/08)

Steve Busitill says; "All we want is to hunt gamebirds that have been hunted for hundreds of years"
This is 2008 Steve, not 1808 or 1908.
Some activities that were accepted in the past are no longer accepable today,
We live in more enlightened times.

David Borg Cardona (on 14/4/08)

Ray Vella, trust you to call hunters ruffians and law breakers. Have a look at your dictionary and see what the word arrogance means. It seems you are endowed with a lot of it.

Raymond Vella (on 14/4/08)

Ms. Sylvana.....with spring hunting still illegal hundreds of shots were fired today. Who runs this country, the government or a bunch of ruffians and law breakers....

Andrew Gatt (on 14/4/08)

Thank YOU Louis & Co.! I'm sure you are gleefully reporting everything..........multiplied by 100, naturally.........and collectively
blaming all hunters for the actions of the irresponsible few.

louis borg (on 14/4/08)

SYLVANA THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING MY PRIVATE PROPERTY BUT JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT BIRDWATCHERS ARE ALLOWED TO ENTER WHILE HUNTERS ARE WARNED NOT TO TRESSPASS EVEN TO COLLECT DEAD BIRDS THEY JUST KILLED ALSO THE EUROPEAN COMMISION IS INFORMED ON DAILY BASIS ABOUT THE ILLEGAL HUNTING THAT IS TAKEN PLACE OVER MALTA AT THE MOMENT SO IT WILL NOT DO THE HUNTERS ANY GOOD

steve busuttil (on 14/4/08)

Sylvana,

Lets just hope that the ECJ will not keep dragging their feet.

All we want is to hunt gamebirds that have been hunted for hundreds of years and not to shoot at anything.

I condemn hunters who do not observe the Law, btu i also condemn irresponsible people who are encouraging others to trespass onto private property.

Not all hunting is bad!!!!

Ben Mamo (on 14/4/08)

Even have seen birds which i have never seen before in my life, and this after just a small walk in the countryside. But i can also confirm that guns can still be heard everywhere. There are regulations about guns, but what about ammo? can anyone buy ammunition?

Richard Cachia Zammit (on 14/4/08)

Sylvana you’re right, spring hunting is still on even though the ECJ hasn’t given it’s decision yet. The amount of shooting that took place this morning in the south of Malta was incredible. And all this is ILLEGAL. But hey I forgot, it’s the birdwatchers that break the law and not the other way round. Yes I do hope they don’t invade any private property.

Alex Ellul (on 14/4/08)

During this Spring season I could see birds that I had not seen for decades, including birds of prey. However I was much disappointed this morning due to the amount of shotgun blasts I could hear in various areas in Malta.

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin (on 14/4/08)

Let us hope that these individuals keep out of private property.

It seems they have concluded that this Spring no hunting will take place. We still have to wait and see. The ECJ decision is still pending.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Friday, May 16, 2008. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

BirdLife Spring Watch camp kicks off

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