Bird-watchers observe changes in bird behaviour this spring

BirdLife Malta yesterday called for the niche market of bird-watching tourism to be exploited, saying that with the right investment and policies on hunting, it would flourish.

Birdlife Malta's executive director Tolga Temuge reported on the overall positive experience of local birdwatchers who were joined by 30 volunteers from five countries participating in the Spring Watch Camp.

However, the experience was marred by a total of 2,466 shots that the volunteers claimed to have heard in 27 different locations across Malta since the event began 12 days ago. The bird-watchers saw birds with gunshot wounds.

Steve Downing, a former police officer and a member of the UK's Wildlife Crime Unit, said Malta was not only at the crossroads geographically but also politically, especially since shooters were disobeying the law. It was disgraceful that Birdlife staff and volunteers were verbally threatened by people who insisted on breaking the law, he said.

"Things need to change or else anarchy will prevail, with these people using their website to threaten the police. The police Administrative Law Enforcement section is doing a fantastic job but they just do not have enough resources. Even the courts have a role to play by not only imposing heavy fines, but by imposing community service orders."

Mr Temuge said birdwatchers are educated tourists who spend a lot of money in the countries they visit. The International Bird and Research Centre in Eilat in Israel, for example, is visited by approximately 100,000 tourists a year. On the island of Mull, off the coast of Scotland, an estimated £1.4 to £1.7 million is generated for the local inhabitants from visitors coming to view White-tailed Sea-eagles.

He added that the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, in the US, calculated that in 2005, the bird-watching industry in the US generated $85 billion, including $32 billion in retail sales.

BirdLife Malta's conservation manager André Raine said that during the camp, bird-watchers reported significant changes in bird behaviour this spring, the first-ever that the hunting season had not opened. He said over 70 species of birds were seen flying over Malta.

"Flocks of turtle doves are grouping in areas like Miżieb and then joining to continue their migration, something we have never witnessed before. But perhaps the most significant fact is that for the first time ever on record, a pair of coots have bred on the Maltese islands, specifically at is-Simar Nature Reserve run by BirdLife Malta," Dr Raine said.

Moreover, he said, black-winged stilts had been observed preparing a nest site at Għadira Nature Reserve. Andrew Morgan, an IT manager and another of the international volunteers, said he decided to come to Malta after reading a story on a UK newspaper about the Stop Illegal Spring Hunting campaign being conducted by Birdlife Malta.

He explained that he was near the airport along with other birdwatchers when they noticed a group of red-footed falcons flying there but heard shots in the distance, saying this experience changed from "one of pleasure to one of horror".

Oliver Slessor, another Spring Watch Camp volunteer, commented on the amount of different species he managed to see while spending some days in Malta and described the island as "a very important stepping stone for migratory birds".

Dr Raine said volunteers are expecting an increase in migratory flows in the coming days.