Shooting turtle doves (1)

We have been regaled by a number of "reasons" as to why hunters should go on killing during the spring season: Tradition; pastime; hobby, etc., as well as the poor dogs pining for the hunt.

The latest wheeze tops it all, thanks to David Borg Cardona of Marsascala (April 22). He tells us the tale of the time he went to Libya and on the way to Tripoli airport witnessed "thousands of turtle doves devouring all the newly planted crops". He goes on to tug at our heart-strings by claiming that the farmers' livelihood is demolished, causing an increase in consumer prices.

He was not lamenting the plight of the Libyan farmers: He was, indirectly, telling us that our farmers face the same hardship, which is why he and his fellow hunters should conserve the turtle doves flying over Malta during the Spring migration by blasting them from the skies.

One will admit that turtle doves can be a nuisance to the farming community (although one has never heard the Maltese farming community pleading - as he said the Egyptians do - with the FKNK to rid them of these pests). However, if the spring season sees hunters killing only pests, there would be no argument. But open the spring season, and every exotic and protected bird flying overhead would become a victim. Many hunters do not respect the law, as we have already seen, even though the spring season remains closed. And as with everything in life, the good have to suffer because of the bad, until the FKNK can regulate its members.

Mr Borg Cardona, in his letter, tells us "let's be sensible". Indeed we should, once the hunters show that they, too, are sensible.