The police yesterday morning seized 29 protected birds (waders) after they were alerted to the presence of trappers in Baħrija.

The alert was raised by international bird watchers on the first day of a CABS watch. CABS has called its watch Operation Safe Haven.

The team said that, after detecting the trapping site, its members observed it from a distance and it soon became clear that two nets, both some 40 metres long, had been set up.

"We became suspicious and decided to take a closer look," CABS press officer Axel Hirschfeld said. The distinctive taped calls of a redshank, a protected species, were heard emitting from a loudspeaker. Through a spotting scope, the CABS members were able to confirm the presence of protected bird species in an aviary adjacent to the trapping site.

"As we began to collect evidence on film from a nearby track, a stout half-naked middle-aged man ran out of the hut, blocked our way, and began to regale us with foul language," he said. The man then opened the birdwatchers' car door and spat directly in the face of the passenger. Everything was recorded on film.

"In order to prevent the situation from escalating, the conservationists drove off and alerted the police. The ALE (administrative law enforcement) patrol that arrived promptly arrested the culprit shortly afterwards and took him to the police HQ in Floriana for questioning."

A second ALE patrol searched the trapping site and freed 29 little stints and wood and common sandpipers. The birds, which were neither ringed nor registered with the authorities, were confiscated and later released into the wild at Għadira nature reserve, CABS said.

CABS said the trapper faced prosecution for offences against bird protection regulations. CABS said it insisted that no charges should be pressed against the man who spit at one of its members, adding that the man had apologised.

The CABS teams will be in Malta until October 4.

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