BirdLife reported that despite the decision by the European Court of Justice, hunting was still rampant. However, notwithstanding the flouting of the law, the following classical tales were reported to be the result of the hunting ban.
Andre' Raine, BirdLife Malta conservation manager, reports that turtle doves were seen grouping and joining others, "something we have never witnessed before". Is it possible that Mr Raine has never seen turtle doves taking off from trees to join others on their migratory flight? A flock of turtle doves in flight would also change direction to chase and merge with another flock. I mention this lest the first time Mr Raine sees this happening he concludes that he witnessed another behavioral change.
I have never seen a barn owl in flight in 50 years' field experience, probably because barn owls are nocturnal and non-migratory. Keith Micallef (April 26) was very lucky to have one landing in his garden which he actually photographed.
Carmel Borg (May 1) saw three falcons hovering in his field which were then followed by a flock of bee-eaters. Bee-eaters eat bees while falcons feed on rodents, snakes and also on smaller birds yet Mr Borg's bee-eaters had no apprehension flying with the falcons; "a rare and enchanting scene" indeed.
Incidentally, a truly remarkable change in the behaviour of the bee-eater did take place, but that started about six years ago. Although rare sights of the bird used to be recorded in late April, the bee-eater was always one of the last spring visitors arriving after mid-May. Hunters always believed that its arrival marked the end of the turtle dove season. In March of about six years ago fairly large flocks of this colourful bird were spotted. Since then the bee-eater has been a regular visitor arriving in abundantly large flocks, starting in early March and staying with us up to late May/early June. BirdLife never made a sensation about this intriguing fact; evidently it is not relevant to their crusade against Maltese hunters. Imagine if this happened this spring!
The Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) president Heinz Schwarze (May 5) states that this year's climatic conditions were favourable and birds spotted included a flock of more than 100 whinchants, two peregrine falcons, an Eleonora's falcon, some eight Montagu's harriers, 15 marsh harriers, 23 red-footed falcons and more than 80 golden orioles together with others. Well? The numbers and species quoted are very common, nothing different from other years. What I find most mystifying is the reconciliation of these numbers to the "millions of birds blasted out of the sky" as reported on many occasions by BirdLife.
The truth is that, like me, BirdLife witnessed nothing different this year. What is ironic is that after so many years of crying for a boycott on Maltese tourism, BirdLife are now telling us that "bird watchers are educated tourists who spend a lot of money". I suppose hunting will have to be abolished both in spring and in autumn for this to materialise.
Irresponsible statements damage the reputation of Malta and the Maltese people at least as much as the stupid shooting of protected birds; both crimes should be checked with determination.