'It will take some years' for finches to breed again'

Finches would not breed in Malta for a number of years even though trapping stopped nearly a year ago, former trapper and ornithologist Joe Sultana said.

"They will not breed in a place where they have been harassed for years," he said during an international seminar organised by BirdLife Malta. On two recent occasions, nests he had discovered disappeared after a few days. On one occasion, whoever took the nest tried to lure the parents by using the baby birds as decoys.

Mr Sultana, who was brought up in a family of hunters and trappers but packed up his gear in 1962, believes Malta has potential to become a breeding ground for finches, as long as these are not harassed.

Explaining the norms of trapping, Mr Sultana said there was friendly competition among trappers who boasted about their catches and some even took a prized bird with them whenever they went out.

But finches could fetch a high price, especially in seasons when not many were caught. Sometimes they could even go for €150 each, Mr Sultana said. A few trappers who owned pet shops sold them there and it was not uncommon for trappers to barter such birds. The EU Life+ Information Project on Bird Migration and Trapping developed by BirdLife Malta in consultation with the planning authority, brought together ornithologists, conservationists and bird lovers to discuss trapping, which came to an end last December after a five-year phasing out period for the trapping of seven finches expired.

BirdLife Malta president Joseph Mangion said the project aimed to bring about dialogue between trappers, their organisation and conservationists. He said it was a pity the hunters' federation, FKNK, had chosen not to attend the seminar although they were offered the chance to voice their opinions and concerns regarding trapping.

FKNK said last week the seminar was part of a EU-funded anti-finch trapping project, which aimed to abolish the traditional socio-cultural passion of finch capturing practised by thousands of Maltese.