Bird callers advertised in hunting journal

Electronic pre-recorded bird callers, which may not be used for hunting, are being advertised in local hunting and trapping journal Il-Passa-temp.

Although it is not illegal for outlets to import and sell the devices, their use in hunting is forbidden under the EU Birds Directive.

The devices are banned because their calls are very effective at attracting wild birds within shotgun range, so the impact on bird populations would be severe if they were permitted.

A person found guilty of using the devices illegally can be fined between €232 and €2,329 on first conviction. However, illegal use of them is believed to be widespread.

When contacted, Il-Passa-temp editor Joe Mercieca said there was nothing wrong with the devices being advertised in a hunting newspaper.

When asked what other uses readers may have for the callers, Mr Mercieca said that they could be used in public gardens to give the impression of birds being present, and they were also used by songbird breeders to teach chicks to sing.

He said that since it was legal to import and sell the devices, it was irrelevant what is done with them when they were sold.

"The existing stupid regulations on hunting and trapping need to be amended. Among other things, the use of bird callers should be legal so that the police will have more time to protect citizens from increasing crime instead of wasting their time running after hunters and trappers using bird callers," he said.

Mario Salnitro, owner of the Gun and Rod Sports Shop in San Gwann, one of three outlets advertising bird callers in this month's edition of Il-Passa-temp, said that "unfortunately" he was not selling many of the devices, which cost from €105 to €750.

He pointed out that bird callers could be used by ornithologists, as well as theatres and schools.

However, he said he would not dare ask customers what they intended to use a caller for in case he lost a sale, "since most gun shops are not doing very well because our season had been shortened for the past two years".

Furthermore, Mr Salnitro believes that the use of the devices should be permitted for the hunting of certain birds, such as ducks, turtle doves and quail, "since most seasons the bag-count is very low and this will help hunters to increase their catch".

Another advert placed in this month's Il-Passa-temp by Fieldsports in Mellieha is devoted entirely to bird callers and boasts of a device that is "Good for Song Thrush, Quail, Golden Plover calls".

Fieldsports owner James Fenech insisted he is opposed to anything illegal and said the devices were bought by former trapping and breeding enthusiasts who no longer kept birds in captivity.

"This is no joke - they end up buying these machines to hear some bird songs," he said.

pcooke@timesofmalta.com