Two hunters fined almost €1,000

A hunter was fined €500, had his shotgun confiscated and his licence suspended for a year after he admitted to shooting a black kite in the middle of a road.

The kite, which is a medium-sized prey in the family that also includes other raptors such as eagles, buzzards, and harriers, was shot last November at Ta' Qali. Stefan Bartolo, 28, pleaded guilty to shooting the bird from a road on a Sunday afternoon despite having been warned by a Mepa official on site that the bird was protected.

Another hunter, 21-year-old Yannic Fenech of Mosta, was fined €460 and had his licence suspended for six months after he was found in possession of a shotgun and two dead birds during the closed season last February.

Mr Fenech was held by the police near Salina Bay after they suspected wrongdoing when they saw him leave Ta' Qali.