All birds have a right to protection

I would like to congratulate Birdlife Malta in its efforts to control hunting. I am a member of the organisation and I have seen big improvements in its role in defending birds from being killed.

However, we must not differentiate between the killing of protected birds and those which are not. What right do these hunters and trappers have to kill and catch quails and turtle doves? Do not these birds have the right to live like the protected species? It is a mistake when we choose birds that can be shot and those that cannot be shot.

We have witnessed the massacre of thousands of quails this last weekend. Are we going to let these killings go on? These birds still have to make the same migrating journey as some of the protected birds. And what are we doing about it? Nothing, as long they are not protected birds. We have to step up and try to ban hunting and trapping forever.

The same goes for the closure of spring hunting. I agree that it was a very good step but still, what is the difference between spring hunting and autumn hunting? Nothing. And obviously they are still the same birds, just reversing their migration path.