No birds in midday sun

I read with interest the report No Birds In Buskett Despite Ban, Says Federation (July 29).

For an organisation that apparently "had no intention of taking anyone for a ride", the FKNK chose to hold their press conference in the middle of the afternoon at the end of July, claiming that there were "no birds in Buskett".

I am sure they are aware that at that time, it is too hot for any bird to be vigorously flying about. As they well know, birds are active in the early morning and late afternoon. Think about it - do you see hunters prowling the countryside in the mid-day heat?

Of course not, they are out early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Apart from that, they very well know that the end of July is typically the quietest period for birds in Malta - and the Mediterranean in general - being exactly after the breeding season has ended and just before migration.

So is this a deliberate attempt by the FKNK to fool the public? It is not a case of "there are no birds breeding in Malta despite a ban on spring hunting", but rather a case of "in the midday heat at the end of July, you will not find many birds in the countryside throughout the Mediterranean".

I don't expect "millions of birds" to breed in these islands in the first year of a spring hunting ban. It takes time and efficient law enforcement to stop illegal hunting and trapping.

But ask the average person on the street whether they saw more birds this year, and whether they felt happier walking in the countryside during the spring without being showered with shotgun pellets. I am sure we all know what the answer is.