Hunters and trappers yesterday rattled their swords, claiming foreigners come to Malta to "spy" on them and accusing the government of stopping afternoon hunting this month to allow these strangers free rein in the countryside.
The Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FKNK) accused BirdLife Malta of having lost all sense of direction and of resorting to deceitful information and blatant lies.
Federation secretary Lino Farrugia warned that, although hunters and trappers have not retaliated in the face of provocation, they will not surrender an inch of their culture or their homeland, adding that trouble was to be expected.
The visit by the Committee Against Birds' Murder (CABS), which he described as mercenaries, and other "foreign spies" were the reason why the government had stopped afternoon hunting this month, thus remaining servile to BirdLife Malta and allowing foreign interference.
"These foreign spies, who are being brought to Malta by BirdLife Malta with the blessing of the government, want to get people out of their homeland to be able to enjoy it themselves. They are not tourists but constitute a serious threat of foreign interference."
A spokesman for the Office of the Prime Minister, denied that afternoon hunting was closed because of the visitors.
Calling CABS "paid spies", Mr Farrugia said they will be going round the island, annoying, provoking and interfering in local life. He alleged they also intend to intrude into private property at night.
The foreigners are coming to act as bird guards and collaborate with BirdLife Malta because they believe the police are inefficient, he insisted.
This year they were combining their mission with that of foreigners coming here for the Raptor Camp on the invitation of BirdLife Malta.
Next month another group of foreigners from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) will be coming over on a voluntary basis in a "premeditated and provocative" campaign against trappers.
The volunteers have to be capable of confrontation and the federation understood that they would be going round asking trappers to register their traps because, according to BirdLife Malta, the government had to register traps until the end of the year so that they can be removed once trapping is abolished next year, Mr Farrugia said.
Referring to posters exhibited in the room where the news conference was held - which said that attacks on birds of prey had gone up by 40 per cent in the UK and that in Duren, Germany, 83 birds were killed in 15 months - Mr Farrugia said charity begins at home and people in glass houses should not throw stones.
"They had better see what is happening in their country rather than coming here where they are not welcome," he said, referring to CABS and the RSPB.
Mr Farrugia urged hunters and trappers to contact the police in case of problems, adding that the federation would be keeping a detailed log of reports by its members during the hunting season.
A report that is expected to be published this month looks at how autumn hunting is not an alternative for spring hunting and another report looking at trapping is expected to be published by the end of the year.
BirdLife Malta executive director Tolga Temuge said when contacted that FKNK was desperate to try and hide illegal hunting and was uncomfortable with birdwatchers - both Maltese and foreign - because they reveal the scale of illegal hunting and lead to increased police presence. Only days ago he witnessed poachers in broad daylight in a conservation area, he said.