Tuesday, 15th April 2008

Bird migration documented as hunters stay at home

Over 150 people joined BirdLife Malta's Spring Watch teams on Sunday for a stroll in the countryside in the first spring without hunting.

Numerous environmental organisations joined the international ornithologists who are here to document migration over a two-week period and report any illegal hunting and trapping, BirdLife said.

The hike started at the Red Tower in Mellieħa. BirdLife officials provided information about the flora and fauna they came across during the walk.

BirdLife Malta executive director Tolga Temuge described the event as a "true celebration" with many walking through the countryside to admire the natural heritage.

"It is clear the Maltese people truly appreciate their wonderful environment, given the chance.

"The government must put much more effort into safeguarding what is left of the countryside for its inhabitants and visitors to be able to enjoy to the full, now and in the future," Mr Temuge said.

The opening of the spring hunting season is on hold as Malta awaits a decision on the matter by the European Court of Justice, with environmentalists revelling in the situation but hunters and trappers feeling increasingly frustrated as peak migration season nears.

Comments

Richard Cachia Zammit (on 15/4/08)

M Cardona, as far as I know, we live in a very small island so definitely you wouldn't expect certain species to breed in their thousands here in Malta. And after all, what's wrong with having the "occasional pair or two". If you really like birds and nature a few pairs is better than nothing. As for Turtle Doves breeding, I'm surprised that he has never witnessed courting males later in spring. Obviously these attempts are short lived as the birds never manage to get the chance.

Fabian Borg (on 15/4/08)

M.Cardona is right. The only place in Malta close to the normal breeding grounds of the turtle dove is Buskett. If a stream of water is manufactured (as only God creates), and bird feed randomly scattered in the area, there may be the possibility to allow turtle dove breeding even maybe up to 10 pairs. This however would mean that nobody ventures at Buskett from May till August to allow the peaceful breeding of these birds.
I would ask the general public if they are willing to give away the chance to spend a quiet Sunday afternoon at Buskett just to have maybe 20 Maltese born Turtle doves which are a Normal European Hunter Day`s Bag.

Franco Farrugia (on 15/4/08)

This title is really a joke!!!!! Hunters staying at home..... so what are the noises across Madliena Valley? Bird-scaring apparatus?

Yes, hunters are staying at home ..... and the cow has just jumped over the moon!

M. Cardona (on 15/4/08)

Yes dear Richard Cachia Zammit, its just as you say, "the occasional pair or two" and so will it remain because the local habitat is too fragmented and degenerated. How do you compare the frustration and anguish of thousands of your fellow Maltese brethren in order to safe guard the safe nesting of the occasional pair or two of turtle doves. I would understand and would be fully in favour if the species concerned was threatened or in danger. Thusfar give the facts and figures as published by none other but Birdlife International, both the turtle dove and the quail are listed as species of least concern. It may thus be inferred that given that our hunting for both species has always been practiced in Spring, our local harvest has never in any way contributed to a decrease in the numbers of these species.

By the way, the turtle dove is a bird of the woods, shy by nature and usually found nesting close to fresh water sources. How do you reconcile that with the Maltese habitat?

Nyal Xuereb (on 15/4/08)

Richard, I agree that if a habitat is created birds can breed, but, and I've been saying this for ages, Malta lacks natural water and this is the top priority for birds. Unless we manage to create large pools with flowing (not stagnant) water, the number of breeding birds will still be limited.

Richard Cachia Zammit (on 15/4/08)

Fabian, Malta was not a suitable breeding ground for the Little Grebe, Little Ringed Plover, Moorhen, Reed Warbler and Little Bittern, but creating the ideal habitat and giving the protection needed, these birds started breeding here. I'm sure that, if left unmollested, the Turtle Dove would do the same when considering that with all the persecution, one or two pairs occasionally try to breed here.

Angelo Agius (on 15/4/08)

Now that spring hunting seems its all over and that birdlife won their struggle.But not without the help of allies that if you start mentioning you will never end.The most famous was the lie of that guarantee that was given to the hunters before the EC referendum. Therefore the biggest lie was the PN government. Now I would like to ask, from that 150 people how many of them could mention a dove from a sparrow because not all of them are birdwatchers and the only reason they are here is because they are injected against maltese hunters.

Fabian Borg (on 15/4/08)

Yesterday 14-April-2008 was a day that was never witnessed in my life with such an abundant early migration of Turtle doves which almost always happens after the 16-April not before. The contributor to this early migration was the low pressure over the Med in the past week and extreme temperatures that occurred over the Sahara. In fact we could feel summer and sand in the air late last week. This would have induced migrating flocks to settle at the edge of North African countries like Libya, Tunis and Egypt in preparation for departure to Europe. This then eventually happened yesterday Monday when the time was right. Witnesses saw hundreds of passing birds yesterday in favourable locations and yet this morning only faw scattered single birds could be observed locally. This further confirms the facts documented by past ornithologists that Malta is not a suitable breeding ground for these species.

Francis Isherwood (on 15/4/08)

Maybe the guys out in the fields yesterday morning, between Marsascala and Zejtun, and over Delimara way were only keeping their eye in, as proven by the early morning noises

Chris Mizzi (on 15/4/08)

I am not sure that hunters are staying at home. Yesterday all around Kalkara and Zabbar I heared a lot of hunters shooting. I phoned a couple of times to the police since the shooting continued all day.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Monday, September 8, 2008. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Bird migration documented as hunters stay at home

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