Seminar to discuss alternatives to bird trapping - BirdLife

Joe M. Anastasi

Nov 7th 2009, 23:13

Take up Bocci.

Andrew Gatt

Nov 7th 2009, 22:28

A seminar to discuss 'alternatives to bird trapping"! What a load of infantile garbage. A discussion about trapping, by an anti-trapping organization run by foreigners! And no trappers present!

Just another cheap scattering of salt in the wounds of thousands of Maltese trappers who were deceived and cheated out of their traditional pastime by the very negotiators appointed by Government to defend their hobby.

Trappers need no dialogue to form opinions about the likes of Birdlife Malta and its ultimate intentions. They formed their opinion a long time ago.

Same old Birdlife. 90% anti-hunting and trapping, and 10% pro-birds in most of what they say and do.

R. Aquilina

Nov 7th 2009, 19:57

Dear Maltese,did you know that in Italy some song birds can be shot. In Malta the same song birds were, by law, only permitted to be taken alive. While song-bird trapping has been locally abolished, now we just watch our Italian neighbours shoot the same birds and including others like sparrows and collared doves. The following details are from an Italian anti-hunting group website (http://proaction.tripod.com/italy/huntinglist.html) :
Bird species which are permitted to be hunted in Italy:
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Italian Sparrow Passer x italiae
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto

Did your special advisers tell you this dear Government when we messed up our laws and disrupted our socio-cultural way of life of many Maltese and Gozitan families? Then it is true, we are second class EU citizens. A chaffinch (Sponsun) can be shot by an Italian but not even caught alive by a Maltese. Can some biased Ornis specialist explain that to us poor ex-colonial natives and second class EU citizens? Will Prof Bruono Massa expand on some 'Chaffinch' cooking receipe, during his forthcoming visit? What is the opinion of the shadow government?

Antoine Grima

Nov 7th 2009, 18:40

What a load of rubbish.What BLM should first explain is , why do they keep on insisting that trapping for finches is banned throughout the EU , when we all know that this another untruth.This will be another long fight which BLM will eventually lose same as the Spring hunting issue.Shame on you BLM , you have still not proven anything , nor have you won anything.The only thing you have managed to do , is destroy loads of lives of Maltese people who have done nothing wrong , apart from not realising that they are being took for a ride buy the government and the EU.Thanks to the FKNK , BLM is not having it it's way.Well done FKNK and keep up the good work.A lot of real,honest,hard working,Maltese families are behind you.

Anthony Formosa

Nov 7th 2009, 17:27

"The project does not aim to abolish finch trapping as this is already banned in Malta in line with EU Accession Treaty Agreement. This ban naturally created frustration among Maltese trappers as the reason behind it was not communicated to trappers by the Maltese government during the five-year phasing out period," BirdLife Malta Campaigns Coordinator Geoffrey Saliba said.

What Exactly the project is aimed to do? if trappers cannot trap for finches, then is obviously abolished.

In Italy not only allowed to trap them but even allowed to shoot at them.

Another alternative for football is to play it on Playstation, is that what BLM means?

Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

Nov 7th 2009, 17:13

Well, BLM could not invite trappers from the Provinces of Brescia, Bergamo, Lecco-Sondrio, Como and Mantua to share their "experience with the audience". These trappers are presently occupied, enjoying their trapping season within the parameters of the law!

Can someone please enlighten me as to: "BirdLife said trapping is not permitted throughout the EU under the Birds Directive." Where is BLM's credibility?!

Joseph E Briffa

Nov 7th 2009, 13:48

Breed them not trap them....

Joe Camilleri

Nov 7th 2009, 12:56

"BirdLife said trapping is not permitted throughout the EU under the Birds Directive"

Here we go again, the same old KANTALINA.
Then how come in Italy, in the provinces of Brescia, Bergamo, Lecco-Sondrio, Como and Mantua, trappers are permitted to capture, by the use of nets, skylarks, fieldfares, blackbirds, song-thrushes and redwings

I think BLM wants to be proved wrong again by the ECJ

m farrugia

Nov 7th 2009, 12:45

Not a bird trapper my self but since I'm familiar with this issue because I have relatives and friends who are passionate trappers them selves BLM please note that there's no alternative for bird trapping.
These persons ( bird trappers ) their only hobby is catching these birds but no breeding them so the only alternative there is, it's trapping itself.