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BirdLife claims sensitive land burnt for trapping sites

The landscape charred black as a result of burning the vegetation at one of the several trapping sites in the important bird area north of Dwejra Bay. Photo: Birdlife Malta.

Birdlife Malta has claimed that large tracts of land in an ecologically-sensitive and important bird area in the north of Dwejra have been burnt to clear vegetation for trapping sites.

Trappers clear vegetation by using different methods, including burning and spreading toxic herbicides to open space for their nets, BirdLife said.

"This practice seriously damages the countryside as wild herbs, plants and flowers, which are habitat to many species of insects and birds, are destroyed."

The organisation said the photo clearly shows two hides opposite each other at the end of a run.

"Placed at regular intervals around the run are stones, on which trappers would place caged song birds to lure wild birds in, also shown in the photo.

"This is a very typical trapping site set up. Hunting hides would be very differently placed and surrounded by vegetation. The hides are all in good condition and the stones bordering the runs are carefully placed, proving that the area is still active," the NGO said.

The site, which is one of the seven important bird areas, is not given the full special protection area status by the Maltese government. The area is given only 30 per cent protection and is therefore subject to an on-going infringement procedure opened by the European Commission against Malta, BirdLife said.

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Comments

Ray Bajada (on 5/7/08)

Please note that at this time around and few weeks before most hunters and trappers do EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE!

Where permitted, they plough the areas surrounding their hide to avoid that any accidental fire will not spread close to their most loved and cared area...the hide.

Dear Birdlife "bird experts", do you really think that any trapper would like such a black area around him? The trapper will be doing his most to attract birds......and such a black spot doesn't help at all.

Just another thing. While you were in Gozo before reaching this spot, you should have noticed several hill sides entirely burnt .........are you instigating that these were also burnt by trappers??

OOOPS! I forgot that the Ornis Committee met this week.
Philip Galea (on 5/7/08)
How nice. Trappers burning vegetation so that they improve their chances of trapping more finches. Leave us alone Birdlies, trappers are one of the best defenders of the natural habitat. The more natural the area looks the better, what gain will they benefit from burning the vegetation now ? By the time the trapping season starts, in October, everything will be back to normal. Just another blatant accusation without proof by the usual mud-throwing organisation.
kevin francica (on 5/7/08)
I would have thought that the only press releases coming from Bird Life Malta this summer would have been reports of breeding birds, given the fact that no spring hunting was allowed this year. Unfortunately this is not the case, they prefer to pursue with their allegations. Contrary to what the statement claims the only unburnt area is actually the place where the nets have to be placed, which is the only logical place to have clear of vegetation.

It seems that sympathy keeps the donations flowing.
Dion Borg (on 5/7/08)
Mr. Zammit,
It takes some gall to label Birdlife ‘killjoys’ – when the only persons ‘killing’ and precluding the public from appreciating the ‘joys’ of a safe countryside, are the hunters & trappers themselves!
Removing the nets and keeping the shotguns locked away, whilst still appreciating the surroundings, is not a Herculian task after all.
Antoine Grima (on 5/7/08)
Do birdlife realise that it's 33 degrees celcius out there. How stupid do they think people are?
Anthony Formosa (on 5/7/08)
Mr. J Borg,

The only current two real “Konservazjonisti” are MEPA, along with Birdlife. I'm not a trapper but I never saw in my life a trapper burning the land in preparation for the trapping season. Birdlife as usual is trying to misinform the public with sensational news. I'm pretty sure that the area is accessible by cars, and very often people tend to make BBQs in such areas, and it's not the first time that I witnessed such activity in my own private land with even syringes left behind with a high risk to my children. If this is what you believe that trappers really do even though it's too early, then Malta should in a state of emergency. Dear Birdlife enough is enough with this dirty tactics, it's a shame.
malcolm said (on 5/7/08)
Did any one think that this could be an accident like many other fires that arise in Malta and the rest of the world??? Or Birdlies Malta are trying to twist facts to suite their hatred campaign against Trappers now that the hunting season is over??
Edward Zammit (on 5/7/08)
Dear birdlife people, just live your lives and let others' be, stop being such spoil sports and pains pls. I'm not condoning illegal hunting, but this country thanks to people such as you will soon end up being a like mental hospital with people just staring at walls doing nothing and contemplating over nothing !! Don't be such killjoys please.
H Farrugia (on 5/7/08)
May I inform these Birdliefe members that when the local vegetation burns it is a blessing, because it gives a new lease of life to the same vegition. True that it takes a long time but nature takes its course by revitilising the undergrowth and thus the new vegitation. If they are ignorant of such biological facts, then they should shut their mouths. This is what happened to Yellowstone park, to california, and wherever there were forest fires.
Wilfrid Buttigieg (on 5/7/08)
Well done Birdlife - you have many silent supporters who approve of your actions and reactions. Keep the sterling work going.
Edward Farrugia (on 5/7/08)
I am not a trapper but when I have some spare time I go near a friend of mine. If i am not mistaken, trappers clear the vegetation from inside the trapping site and not from the surroundings. The surroundings is left full of vegetation, so the birds will go directly in the clear area of the trapping site, where a decoy is placed in clear view for the birds. If all the area is cleared, birds will scatter all round and they will not be caught.
I don't know how, birdlife concluded THAT THIS IS ONLY A JOB OF A TRAPPER and NO OTHER CAUSES CAN BE for this burnt piece of land.
J. Borg (on 5/7/08)
Konservazzjonisti doing sterling work?

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