Video: BirdLife reports sharp increase in hunting

Richard Cachia Zammit

Oct 17th 2008, 13:10

@ I Robinich
I think YOU have YOUR banana split. Seems as if you just made a blunt accusation without informing yourself. Are you mixing CABS with Raptor camp participants? You were very quick in your accusation, so how about substantiating your claim now?

As for staying in one place, there were more than one group scattered in different watch points, but every watch point was in public land. Inform yourself before commenting please.

I Robinich

Oct 17th 2008, 12:03

@ Cachia Zammit


At last the truth is coming out........ you stated that they remained in one place !!!! Question........ How the missfits they could detect all the poaching that was going round Malta ??? and counting gun shots ??? was there a Dumbo amongst them ?? Food for thought ............. May you be forgiven for your banana split.

I Robinich

Oct 17th 2008, 11:57

@ Cachia Zammit

Just get your PRO to spend 5 euro cents and phone the Police for further information and hope that you be satisfied. They might not be arraigned in court maybe because they fled away like the turtle doves in Spring when according to you were suppose to nest here !!! I would suggest that when Birdlife wants to waste space on the media they make it through an Affidavit maybe they will be slightly more credible.

Richard Cachia Zammit

Oct 17th 2008, 10:15

@Andrew Gatt
Definitely shots heard when hunting is permitted are not reported. At that time only actual shooting at protected birds are recorded. You can always have a look at last year's report to get an idea of what is reported. Also I myself reported illegal hunting activities which I witnessed but the perpetrators were never apprehended. Does that mean that my cases were all fabricated? I know of an instant where a honey buzzard was shot in front of the police and just the same, the poachers managed to escape but the wounded bird was found by the police themselves. The ALE are limited when compared to the large number of poachers that roam our countryside and that is why better law enforcement is urgently needed to eradicate these poachers for the sake of everyone.

Andrew Gatt

Oct 16th 2008, 20:51

@ Richard (contd) Birdlife's statements and allegations (proven cases excepted, fair enough) should be compared against Police records of arrests, persons charged, confiscations made etc. related to illegalities. After all, Birdlife and CABS had 24 Police escorts on call. Inspite of their spotting scopes, night vision eqiupment, cameras etc., , I certainly didn't see/hear/read of over 600 persons being charged. Or 400. Or 200. Or 100. Or 50. We have gazillions of birds that Birdlife say migrate over Malta (the sky's black with 'em!). we have 600+ incidents and not much to show for either - neither birdies nor baddies!!!!

Andrew Gatt

Oct 16th 2008, 20:43

@ Richard Cachia Zammit.......

1. I do hope these statistics are provided for a number of reasons. To start with, I'm sure we all agree that the shooting of protected species is by far the worst and most contemptible, with birds of prey (with widely varying populations) often being the main targets. These are the birds Birdlife displays to the public - I have yet to see a video of a swallow or swift being shot (not enough propoganda value, I guess). However, according to Birdlife itself, only 10-15% of the 626 incidents relate to shooting of protected species. So, yes, I am very keen to find out what methodology is used. For instance, are 12 shots fired by one poacher (possibly from different locations) at intervals during the September aftenoon curfew considered as 12 separate incidents? If a legal hunter flushes and shoots a perfectly legal quail, it is quite common that there may be other, protected birds overhead in the vicinity - creating another "incident" via an easy, convenient and wrong assumption.

harry borda

Oct 16th 2008, 20:11

Birdlife are so much out material and ideas what to do next, they have resorted to something that happened weeks ago and decided to try and create some uproar about their (sic) cause. Come on Birdlife, be a sport and let us enjoy what's left of open hunting season in peace!

Richard Cachia Zammit

Oct 16th 2008, 18:19

@I Robinich
Can you tell us when Raptor camp participants entered private land please? Raptor camp participants did their observations by staying in one place and unless you consider public roads as private, kindly provide more details re your allegation. Even Lino Farrugia said that hunters never had any problems with raptor camps and this year it was just the same.
@Andrew Gatt
No doubts, all details of illegal hunting incidences were provided to the authorities concerned and I’m sure, as they did before, they will also issue a report which anyone can eventually download.
@Robert Micallef
Well said. If only everyone concentrated to eradicate these poaches, everyone will be the happier.

Scerri S

Oct 16th 2008, 17:56

Call them spies or whatever, locals, foreigners - who cares? At least someone is doing what I'd do if I had the time and means. Well done, Proset.

I Robinich

Oct 16th 2008, 17:24

Birdlife is so into instigating hatred against hunting and express extremism that reaches ecstatic levels which make them contradict their own statements. How can bird shooting decrease dramatically and I stress DRAMATICALLY and then illegal hunting went up by 111%!!!! to add insult to injury within same statement they received reports about illegal shooting 162% more than last year with sky high figures being stated. Something is wrong here buddy !!!! In this statement they give credit to their raptor camp and the Police for the clamp down of poaching. Mr. Mangion did not condemn the illegal entry and abuse by some attendees of the Camp into private land which in court for their wrong doings.

Must I think that even in their presence rootless poachers shot down the Black Stork and the Lesser Spotted Eagle, so are they effective ?? Truth is that responsible and mature hunters respected the law and did not go on a shooting spree where all that flies and winged is a sporting target, and break the law and shoot during the no hunting period after 15.00hrs. So in my opinion the decrease in bird shooting should be credited to the law abiding hunting lobby.

D Camilleri

Oct 16th 2008, 17:18

@godfrey pisani

Its not enough hoping they get what they deserve, which will probably be a fine of less than half a months wages and maybe a ban from hunting for some time. Law abiding hunters should make sure they are stopped from hunting for good. If I was a law abiding hunter I would insist with my fedeartion that these people are reported and banned from hunting again. You are right these people can be stopped, by police presence and people in the field watching out for illegalities, calling people spies and denying the incidents or calling them MISTAKES is just making an excuse for this to go on,
The nearly 260,000 registered protected stuffed birds were not shot by 300 people

Andrew Gatt

Oct 16th 2008, 16:25

Can Birdlife please define "illegal hunting incidences" and perhaps provide more details? Dates, times, type of alleded illegality and so on. Simply "saying" is not good enough for me. Birdlife SAY a lot of things, but beyond the few protected birds recovered (and I thoroughly condemn this) the rest is hype, vague, exaggerated, unproven and unsubstantiated. Massacre here, massacre there, lies and incitement to "reclaim your countrsyde", the U-turn on Spring Hunting, the contradictory statements, fantastic claims of millions of birds, misinforming the public left right and centre etc etc...... Birdlife, put up or shut up. Prove it or lose it!

M Grima

Oct 16th 2008, 16:07

@ J Farrugia

Its a small point, but we cannot "boot out german, italian, and english peopple (sic)" if they are law-abiding. In the early 21st Century Malta joined an organisation called "The European Union" . All "EU Citizens" have equal rights whichever EU territory they happen to be in. Hope that helps your understanding a little.

Antoine Grima

Oct 16th 2008, 16:05

I wonder what Birdlife are brewing ? These statements are normaly followed by something else in the next day or so .

Robert Micallef

Oct 16th 2008, 15:44

The quicker we get rid of this scum the better as we law abiding, genuine hunters can hunt in tranquilty and peace!

T Mifsud

Oct 16th 2008, 15:01

J Farrugia the article is about Birdlife not CABS. Stop barking the same lullaby that they are spies, foreigners etc. because doing so you are showing intolerance towards crimewatch and condoning illegal hunting. Look at your words: "The more you blame hunters the more illegal activity will be seen". Why? And why should Birdlife follow their heels out of the country? So you can practice more illegal hunting by any chance? If not say why you want Birdlife out?

l Galea

Oct 16th 2008, 14:55

GIve us a break birdlife

J Farrugia

Oct 16th 2008, 14:16

The more you blame hunters the more illegal activity will be seen. And it has the result of the treacherous Birdlife and its foreign masters..

J Farrugia

Oct 16th 2008, 14:14

These CABS are just spies, no more no less. They should be booted out of our country with Birdlife following on their heels. The Maltese people do not spy on others as these german, italian, and english peopple are doing.

C Mallia

Oct 16th 2008, 14:09

Good work Birdlife. Events like the raptor camp has shown that they are effective. So a heavy presence of birdwatchers during all the hunting season seems to be the only answer to illegal hunting, as the past has shown that the hunters themselves do not seriously regulate the poachers among them.

godfrey pisani

Oct 16th 2008, 13:52

good and well done and i hope they get what they deserve , but were does this leave the law abiding hunting comunity , we deplore and detest these people and these things , even from there cloths you can tell that these are not genuine hunters , but people that live in the dark ages , also when you consider the reports you are stating in your article if they are to be correct it reflects about 4 percent of the licensed hunters and this when you consider that each incident had to be done by a different person each time . No matter how you look at it and talk about this situation , the problem is not more then 300 poachers that can be controlled and caught and sorted with the help of every one involved , but for this to happen you need to respect our tradition and acknowledge our legitmate right to hunt like each and every other european , You know we do a lot of good ground work for our habitat like other hunting federations in the eu that are succesful . if you really want this to stop you can .

Anthony Formosa

Oct 16th 2008, 13:45

heemmm 626 illegalities, and with all the sophisticated cameras that cabs brought only few were apprehended. What is exactly birdlife is trying to prove? If someone says that a lot of traffic regulations are being broken and only two get a fine, either it's a true lie of the statement or the enforcerer is not doing its job. And can birdlife be more specific on the kind of illegalities? shooting at a quail on 16 September after 3 pm became also illegal.