Birdwatchers welcome flock of 20 white storks
A flock of 20 White Storks (Ċikonja Bajda) and the first migratory raptors have been seen by local birdwatchers this season, BirdLife said.
It said in a statement that Europe’s birds have once again started to leave their breeding grounds ahead of the winter months, moving towards their African wintering grounds.
As an island on the central migratory route, Malta is an important stepping stone for many birds as they cross over the Mediterranean.
These include large numbers of birds of prey, whose migration peaks between September and early October.
During this period, large numbers of raptors arrive in Malta in the late afternoon, where they fly low searching for suitable safe roost sites to spend the night.
They gather in areas such as the Buskett Bird Sanctuary and Mizieb and on good days can number in the hundreds, offering observers spectacular views.
Ring recoveries have shown that raptor species such as Ospreys (Arpa) come to Malta from as far away as Sweden, Finland and Germany, and the Marsh Harrier (Bagħdan Aħmar), a common migrant in Malta, shown to come from eight European countries including Finland, Latvia, Poland and the Czech Republic.
BirdLife Malta has invited international guests to join its annual raptor camp coinciding with the peak raptor migration.
As part of this camp, which will run from September 11 to 26, volunteers will record data on migrating birds and report illegalities to the police, gathering photo and video evidence to help with their investigations.
The Raptor Camp will welcome volunteers from seven countries in Europe, all being countries which birds migrating over Malta come from.
Migration also coincides with the start of the autumn hunting season, which is open for five months as from today for 32 species of wild migratory birds.
Between September 15 and 30 hunting may not take place after 3 p.m. to protect migrating raptors, which at that time are flying low over Malta searching for a roost site and are therefore particularly vulnerable to illegal hunters, BirdLife said.
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gaffarena joseph
Sep 3rd 2010, 23:14
Brian,
Yes they are still on the island,staying in a 5 star hotel.
From reliable source they will be going on tuesday morning.
Joseph Brincat
Sep 3rd 2010, 20:03
These birds that are passing over Malta are the young of the birds that over 50 years ago used to migrate over Wied Babu, il-Buni, Blandun, Bahrija. Buskett and all over the Maltese country side going down to Africa. At that time Maltese hunters and trappers were all happy people. Hunters used to fire a single shot and yet used to return home with a bag full of birds. Likewise the trappers. So we don't need the EU to tell us what needs to be done to let the trappers, hunters and bird watchers enjoy their passtime.
C. Abela
Sep 3rd 2010, 13:00
@JohnnyXerri
Fair enough about not all hunters knowing everyone in an area. I still think however that if you hunters really want to stamp out poaching, you are the best placed to do so, even more than police, BLM or anyone else. You still hunt in the same areas, and are more likely to be around than anyone else when a shot rings out and that buzzard comes plummeting down. I imagine you also buy supplies from the same shops, drink in the same bars, etc. Birdwatchers often take pics of poachers, so should not be hard for hunters to also do so. Everyone has a phone today.
How many lawbreaking hunter has FKNK taken action on, or brought to the police's attention? (Before they were caught, I mean..)
Something I dont understand is that when BLM or Times report a poaching incdent , there are always dozens of hunters writing in to discredit or cast doubt on the reports? Dont you see that by doing so you are taking the poachers' side,and thus defending/protecting them? How can you then expect people to make the distinction between hunters and poachers?
Johnny Xerri
Sep 3rd 2010, 15:50
In all sincerity you would have to direct that question to FKNK.
But then shall we lable all priests as pervs, since they never brought out their crimes to light, it was always the victims that exposed these. I believe not, let us not forget the good that priests in general do, and let us not tilt the balance due to a few rotten minds. Same with hunters. Many hunters have planted trees, made water ponds, rebuilt rubble walls, plough and weed land to avoid tree damaging fires, plus a lot of other valuable work in their fields. Yes granted their are sick minds who poach. Bt should we weed out the sick & rotten minds or the licenced legal law abiding hunters?
Johnny Xerri
Sep 3rd 2010, 15:52
Many a time doubts are case over illegalities because the maths of the event does not tally. I mean, the bird is found, the hide position is taken, sometimes the car is filmed, and yet the poacher is not caught. Poachers risk hefty fines not to kill a bird and leave it there but to collect it. So why do BLM give the game away by letting themselves be spotted and collect the bird. Why dont they let the poacher collect it film him doing so and film his number plates, and report to the police so that he is intercepted. Simple becuase a poacher caught will bring them no glory because its better if the poacher is untouched and continues in his acts, so that BLM will have more gory pics to display, and so an impression that the majority of hunetrs being poachers is maintained.
let us not forget, now that BLM have had their autumn alternative claim shot down by the ECJ, illegal hnting is their only weapon. Thus they need the evidence, but they do not need the culprit, or actually they need him outthere not caught, to bring in fresh evidence.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Sep 3rd 2010, 12:56
George Debono
Do you expect anyone to take your comment seriously. if indeed all hunters were to shoot at anything that flies you would never stand a chance of seeing any birds. Birdlife complain about the number of hunters and that they occupy 80% of the countryside.
If this were true all inhabited areas where hunting does not take place would be inundated with birds.
Malta's surface area is 350 Km. Sq, the huntable area 118 Km Sq. that leaves 232 Km. Sq. where hunting is prohibited.
So please explain why birds are not to be commonly seen over our towns, why Comino, a bird sanctuary for years, is devoid of any birds. Indeed we do see many sparrows, short toed larks, shearwaters and several other birds that breed or are resident.
So how do you explain seeing all these birds even in the huntable areas when hunters are meant to shoot everything.
Try and distinguish between the hunter and the garbage that shoots at protected species. Your statement is like labelling anyone with binoculars around his neck as a pervert. No why do you have binoculars?
George Debono
Sep 3rd 2010, 12:37
Johnny Xerri
Johnny - sorry butit is a fact that (well, almost) "...every single bird birds that ventures over Malta, protected or not, is slaughtered, massacred, blasted, shredded, disovled in thin air, by the 17000 hunters..." ( this includes those many "hunters" who don't care a fig about shooting anything that moves) .
I remember the disgusting swan incident when so-called "hunters" walked up to these beautiful creatures and shot them from point-blank range.
When I see a beautiful bird flying up high above I want it to make me feel happy and appreciate its beauty - as it is, anybody who sees a large bird fly over wonders how long it is going to live... before a "hunter" gets it.
how terribly sad.....
G
Johnny Xerri
Sep 3rd 2010, 15:39
Large protected birds (and also smaller protected birds, like kingfishers, hoopoe, nightjars...., lets not forget these too) are protected. Nobody has a right to kill them already. They don't need to wait for an open season or a closed season.
Now if poachers target these, they will do so open or closed season, simply because there is no open season for these birds. So much so that last year the spotted eagle was shot at (but for the luck of birdwatchers and hunters alike, it was not killed) during the september afternoon ban.
By banning hunters from hunting legal game, poachers will have even more countryside in which to roam and poach, and even less witnesses to identif them or legal hunters to chuck them out of their private land. I for one would never allow a known poacher (or any other person for that matter) in my land even to hunt legal game since he would be a police magnet and if he leaves a bird behind without my knowledge I would be blamed because I am the land owner.
By banning legal hunting nobody stands to gain, except poachers
George Debono
Sep 3rd 2010, 12:27
Johnny Xerri
RE "I will tell you my story and then judge:......"
Your sob story made me really weep and cry!
The tears poured all over my computer (I saved for 5 years to buy it!) and ruined it. Boo Hoo!
G
Johnny Xerri
Sep 3rd 2010, 15:28
I don't need your pity, or your sobbing....sob for yourself because after all your insults, after all the antis inflated figures, after all the extremist help you roped in HUNTING IS STILL PRACTICED, THIS YEAR IN SPRING, SUMMER AND AUTUMN AND ABOVE ALL, IN EACH SEASON IT WAS ALWAYS PRACTICED LEGALLY.
Were is some people's tolerance, education and maturity?
An then you wnat hunters to remain honest, to get their help in turning over poachers, and for poechers to reform. How can one take a common stand and root out illegalities if no matter what you still cry for hunters blood?
I must be crazy to respect the law, for ultimatly I will still not get respect from extremists like you.
George Debono
Sep 3rd 2010, 12:19
Johnny Xerri
"............... The stork is protected in Malta.............."
Big joke !
G
Johnny Xerri
Sep 3rd 2010, 15:23
well if Malta's laws are a joke then so be it, but I still obseve them, firstly because I believe that no matter how bannal a law may be, it has to be respected. I don't agree with every law, and neither do all the Maltese agree with every law. But normally all citizens observe the laws. Secondly becuase they are there for a reason. Thirdly because if caught, it would be me that has to face the music.
Just because some poeple do not observe all the regualtions and laws then it does not mean that the activity is unregulated or a joke.
Don't many drivers flaut all the regulations?
Don't many self employeed flaut many laws and evade taxes?
Don't many priests flaut the law and abuse kids?
Don't many party goers flaut the law and take drugs?
Don't political party reps and candidates flaut laws and accept bribery, take laptops home, misappropraite money +++++?
Illegalities occur in all sections of society, that does not mean that there are no laws or that a law is a joke. Or that those who educate persons on law are a joke.
Leif Nielsen
Sep 3rd 2010, 09:35
Mr J. Xerri - I mean the poachers, ofcourse, sorry about the reel hunters - Copenhagen
Leif Nielsen
Sep 2nd 2010, 17:23
Dear Maltese Hunters - Don´t Shoot the Storks - It´s the Danish National Bird - from Copenhagen - and to day we have 25 degres C, very sunny - LEIF
Johnny Xerri
Sep 2nd 2010, 19:30
Dear Leif Nielsen, The stork is protected in Malta so you do not need to plead to hunters not to shoot it. You might need to plead to poachers not to shot it. Besides, the flock of storks was not seen today or yesterday, but on the 20th August, 10 days before the opening of the autumn season. I know that it is hard to believe after the way that local and foriegn media have tainted us thanks to BLM & co, but not all game birds let alone protected birds end up killed. So much so they were also seen departing safely from Malta over Ghadira bay. So your plea to poachers would be ill time.
Steve Zammit
Sep 3rd 2010, 08:29
@Johnny Xerri
Slight correction , the storks were seen at the location you sir mentioned flying over, but on the 24th and not on the 20th . Thank you
Johnny Xerri
Sep 3rd 2010, 11:54
Well strange coz they were witnessed by hunters on the 20th (myself included)
However, lets for the benefit of the doubt say that they were witnessed later, when the season was open. That means that neither hunters, nor poachers hindered their migration. Isn't that a positive thing?
Lets give credit when its due, lets stop tarnishing all with one brush, lets bury the grudges and unite & fight poaching, to the benfit of hunters and birdwatchers.
Steve Zammit
Sep 3rd 2010, 14:14
Thanks for your reply Johnny. The above article of BLM is refering to the storks sighted on the 24th. Therefore the other White Storks you said you sighted 4 days before must have been different birds.
Of coarse lets be positive:-). I personally have only seen 1 White Stork, 2 years ago and what a beautiful sight it was let alone seeing 20!
I agree with your last paragraph! I admit that when it comes to hunting I personally don't agree with everything that is legal and I have many reasons to do so. I hope you respect my opinion and I respect yours. But when it comes to illegalities in particular killing of protected birds, legal hunters and birdwatchers, conservationists etc should ignore the differences between us and build on what we agree. We should all pull the same rope to stop illegalities to the benfit of hunters and birdwatchers.:) Regards
Johnny Xerri
Sep 3rd 2010, 15:13
I respect all opinions, however, I cannot respect those that speak in favour of outright bans, or those that parrot heresay, and especially those that generalise and over inflate.
I have encountered people at my work place who say that all hunters shoot at anything, but then coz I know these people & they eventually admitted, they don't even go in the countryside!!!
There are people who never venture out in the countryside and then make all sorts of allegations!!!
Not to insult you but storks are not so rare. They are sighted every year, and I have seen them 7 times in the last 10 years. Of course always on single dates and never more than once a year. So when compared to other countries it is very scarce. It is just a matter of luck.
As for respecting the hunters opinion, well all I can say is that as long as the activity is sustainable and practiced safely, then one should have no objection.
Likewise, if birdwatchers, respect legal hunting, do not enter private land and do not hinder (I am sure you read how they operpously hindred me), I respect their position.
Steve Zammit
Sep 3rd 2010, 19:11
I regularly write on this blog on these issues but I never was one of those whom said ban hunting, inflate or what not. I always try to be reasonable...I give you no blame for being frustrated when people speak without really knowing what they are speaking about. I am a birdwatcher and go out on a regular basis to observe birds only. No, I don't enter private property nor hinder any legal hunters and always showed respect to everyone in our countryside. Yesterday I enjoyed seeing 2 Dottorels flying over, a few bee-eaters and my first yellow wagtails for this season along with a Turtle Dove:) Regarding stork sightings: I would still keep there local status as rare. Yes a few individuals are recorded each year especially Black Storks but one cannot really call them scarce or regular. I personally have seen only 1 White Stork in the past years but more Black Storks. One of my most memorable days was when I along with others sighted the flock of 11 Black Storks two years ago...yes it is simply a matter of luck! Regards
Johnny Xerri
Sep 3rd 2010, 21:18
@ Steve,
I was not referring to you. I notice the difference between real birdwatchers (some times they record so much info that I would even trem them amateur ornithologists) and simple newspaper blabbers and parrots, just as much as I recognise a dove from a pigeon :)
I agree with you that storks rare, but single birds are recorded once per year or every two years. Of course black storks are slightly more likely to be encountered than white storkes, however, exceptionaly both storks are they seen in large flocks (large i.e. 5-20).
Its just luck, I happened to see storks 7 times in 10 years, and but did not manage to see all those crames last winter coz I happened to be sick at home with fever. I lost a lifetime opportunity, but these things happen, you miss a chance once and its finished, this shows how far Malta is from being a main central migratory flyway.
Joe Camilleri
Sep 2nd 2010, 11:16
well done for the "local birdwatchers"
They are so keen that the photo in this article is from BLM's ARCHIVE !!!!!!
They did not even manage to take a recent photo
S. Azzopardi
Sep 2nd 2010, 13:00
Do you manage to kill every bird you shoot at Joe??? Have you ever seen a bird and wished you had your gun???
It's the same in birdwatching ta...
Check ur organisation's forum. FKNK itself said the flock was 'high up'. Imma l-aqwa li we try discredit anything Birdlife says ux??? Don't worry, waste of space, we're used to it...
Johnny Xerri
Sep 3rd 2010, 07:36
According to the antis every single bird birds that ventures over Malta, protected or not, is slaughtered, massacred, blasted, shredded, disovled in thin air, by the 17000 hunters.
According to the antis, hunters are in a minority. So possibly with such an interest in birdwatching, from 450000 - 17000 (plus tourists), nobody managed a decent pic?
I mean a central migratory flyway, and yet we get no bird tourism (for either bird watching or hunting), no decent documentaries, no decent photography. If Malta was really on such a flyway, don't you think that for one moment, that discovery chanel or national geographic would visit the island for a documentary shoot?
The only migratory path that Malta finds its self in is that of illegal immigrants.
Brian Camilleri
Sep 2nd 2010, 08:44
Are they still on the island? Im studying photography. I would really like to shoot some photos. (mind: shoot PHOTOS!!! :)
gaffarena joseph
Sep 2nd 2010, 08:15
May these 20 white storks,enjoy their stay here, and continue their journey safe to other country, where there the people observe the hunting laws.
Have a nice stay here.
Adrian Wirth
Sep 1st 2010, 19:18
Whilst having many personal feelings in respect of the way in which so called 'hunting' is undertaken here and after a fair number of years observing the day to day practice of their 'hobby' along the north coast of the island, I have to state in all fairness that on a day to d ay basis rarely have I been aware of more than a dozen at most guns simultaneously operating across a swath of country from Wardija ridge to Wied id Diss. Assuming this to be roughly one third of the land mass over which shooting is likely nationally that means in total about 36 guns are active between 0500hrs and 0730hrs most week days. For arguments sake lets say fifty guns might be simultaneously active. Lets also say that of those fifty guns possibly two or three persons consciously and deliberately break the law on a daily basis. Given the 'closeness' of the 'hunting' community it cannot be beyond the realms of reason to expect the remaining 47 hunters to inform FKNK that 'X' or 'Y' are breaking the law and for FKNK and other similar NGO's to take action with the police to arrest offenders.
Johnny Xerri
Sep 1st 2010, 21:40
At least a sensible & realistic start. Thanks.
What you mention does and does not make sense since not all hunters know the hunters in their area. Sometimes 'new' people just come over to an area and roam around because they know the usual hunters are not there. Some of these may be legal hunters, some may be poachers
Apart from the fact that most law breakers do not break the law in their own private area. In their land they abide 100% by the law. They tend to roam around into other private land in order to do their dirty bit without being traced. The problem is not identifing the hunter, the problem is identifing the poacher since many a time he does the poaching on other peoples land (in their absense), goes to the area by foot or gets a lift (so that cars and number plates are not visible) and so enter undetected and leave undetected.
So one cannot place all the blame on hunters. One can expect cooperation from hunters, and whenever police stopped me for help I gladly helped, but one cannot threaten with 'either you remove poachers or we ban hunting'
C. Abela
Sep 1st 2010, 18:50
@VictorBorg Like Jonathan Beacom, you say you see hunters flush raptors out of trees and shoot them. One has to ask these so called hunters, where on earth is the skill or challenge in that? Clearly then such individuals only hunt for the perverted pleasure of seeing an animal die by their own doing. What a sad and weak state of life to be in. If this is so blatant, you should definitely report it to the police (maybe you did? its not mentioned in your post) . Im sure ALE exists in Gozo. In spring I went there for walks and witnessed hunters during the ban, so I promptly called Victoria policestation. 20-30mins later a policecar turned up and drove around the area I had indicated. Unfortunately these had moved off already as they seemed to be constantly moving (probably a deliberate tactic) but the point is that the police did respond. One cant expect police to be everywhere and turn up without any report, especially if this is happening at night, but one hopes they would if you made a report. .
Jennifer Soames
Sep 1st 2010, 18:12
Just because hunting is practised everywhere else in the world, it doesn't make hunters less repulsive, it still makes them seem brutal and irreverent to all life forms.
Also, i don't believe it when people say hunters committed suicide when they found they couldn't go hunting anymore. People who commit suicide have serious problems in their life (caused by serious situations not just a ban on hunting) and should not go around walking with a gun, even if it is in the countryside.
Andrew Gatt
Sep 1st 2010, 18:46
A remarkably insensitive and insulting comment, Jennifer. I happened to know 2 of them personally. And were you also including the Royal Family in your diatribe? Repulsive? Look whose talking. Grow up and learn some manners.
Pawlu Scicluna
Sep 1st 2010, 22:34
Jennifer Soames it's people like you who are repulsive because you do not see the beam in your eyes (what happens in your own country including by the royal family) and see the straw in others eyes. We don't need your sermons and neither you nor anyone else is going to stop hunting and trapping in Malta. If you don't like it you know what to do.
T.Agius
Sep 2nd 2010, 09:47
PLEASE stop being offensive!!! I come from a family of hunters, We used to look forward for April and September because we would all gather at our land before work and take a cup of tea and hunt for a ' gamiema' or a ' melvizz'. the fact is that even my grandpa and his brothers came! there over 70 years old! I doubt that they could see 2mtrs away let alone shoot a bird. But it was something they looked forward to and have been doing that since they were children!! thats why these people have seen the closing of the hunting season as a personal loss!!!
Johnny Xerri
Sep 3rd 2010, 07:51
I will tell you my story and then judge:
@ age 16-18 I worked entire summer holidays with two different employers as a barman in order to get some cash. My parents let me keep my stipend and live rent & expense free. So at 18 I got all my saved pocket money, wages, and stipend and got my self a brand new gun, and with the rest I planted some trees. So at 18 I had already spent €7000 on trees and a gun (gun cost €1500 & 500 olive trees @ €11 each)
From then on I started working and saving to by a car (because my dads second hand car donated to me would not last forever). At 24 I had saved just enough for a pickup. Then I started working after I graduated, and with the money I bought more fields.
All in all I approximately spent €50,000 on a hobby which was suppossedly guaranteed by non the less than over EU infomation centre, Prime minister, EU growth commisioner, all the Nationalist Party candidates. I had invested my earnings around my hobby, legally practiced on a world-wide scale, only to find that it was all lies.
Johnny Xerri
Sep 3rd 2010, 08:01
If being robbed of the pleasure of your €50000 investment, doesn't drive you crazy I don't know what will :)
People commited suicide not becuase they had other problems but because they could not stand lossing an integral part of their life.
Hobbies like reading, stamp collecting, football....can be practiced any time of the year with no probs...Hunting can only take place during migration so we have to wait a whole year for a few weeks of migration. During our wait, we rebuild hides, rubblewalls, prune trees and conserve the habitat. We go clay shooting to keep in form. We hope that the weather is favourable for migration...
During the season we meet in our fields or coffee shops and discuss our sightings, or have a laugh about one of our mishaps.
So its not just a hobby, its not just bam bam bam. Its a part of one's life and removing that part would remove the rest (going to the fields to conserve the habitat, dog training, decoy bird breeding...) leaving such an empty space that some people cannot handly.
A friend of mine was such a victim @ only 30
Victor Borg
Sep 1st 2010, 18:06
Well, I know hunters who watch the raptors land in trees to sleep, and then sneak up on the tree at night or before dawn, flush out the bird and shoot it.
I have seen this with my eyes, many many times. And I have never seen the police apprehend anyone - I live in Gozo, and I repeat: I regularly see hunters roaming the countryside, flushing raptors at night then shooting them. And every time I think? Where are the police?
What is the ALE that people speak of? We don't have ALE in Gozo - we have a bonanza of hunters, free to do as they like.
Victor Borg
www.victorborg.com
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Sep 1st 2010, 16:23
Jonathan Beacom
if you "know hunters who monitor which trees birds land in in the evening" and then shoot them illegally, being a friend of yours and a hunter, I would appreciate your passing on their details to me. I assure you that I will personally report anyone you mention.
Failing that, I would appreciate your not generalizing about hunters and saying they should get a life. If you know who these people are then what stopped you from reporting them.
It seems not only hunters need to get a life!
Take care and happy shooting - photos of course.
r sammut
Sep 1st 2010, 15:50
Hand me the tissues please, can’t hold back tears! How sweet of Birdlife!
The sheepskin clad Birdlife justifying their slimy manoeuvres at manipulating the Government issuing the afternoon bans and bringing over of foreign extremists hunters-watchers. Putting hunters into bad light is their tactics.
Even hunters welcome and enjoy WATCHING such sights as much as other birdwatchers. The erroneous impression spelt by Birdlife is their usual animosity against the hunting fraternity at the launch of each season’s opening!
D Vella
Sep 1st 2010, 16:04
Yeah and the difference is that watchers don't blow the birds to smithereens but let them go on their way graceful way.
R. Azzopardi
Sep 1st 2010, 16:06
I would really like to believe you r sammut but experience has taught me otherwise.
G Gatt
Sep 1st 2010, 16:52
r sammut
"Even hunters welcome and enjoy WATCHING such sights as much as other birdwatchers. "
Of course they enjoy watching such sights !! LOL Of course !!
Because those sights would probably mean a forthcoming enrichment of their personal stuffed birds showcases in their homes. I've seen some of these myself, the showcases, and it's disgusting.
Watch it !! Take aim, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot GOT IT !!
Johnny Xerri
Sep 1st 2010, 21:26
G Gatt, if you have seen collections as you claim you are just as guilt for you have seen the evidence and yet failed to curb the abuse.
r sammut
Sep 1st 2010, 21:42
D Vella, R. Azzopardy and G Gatt
Today I was out and about for most of the day, eager at the chance to catch the first turtledove on the very first day of the open season. No luck there, not even managed a glimpse of one! I had had the chance to see a hoopoe though! It landed on a rubble wall very close and stayed for quite a while; opening and retracting its head fan feathers before it flew off a short distance to another field.
Seeing your comments above, made me wish that you should have been there as well!
R. Azzopardi
Sep 2nd 2010, 08:54
I really wish I was there with you too Mr. Sammut rather than being cooped up in an office. If only all hunters had your attitude, we would have absolutely no problem.
G Gatt
Sep 2nd 2010, 16:20
Johnny Xerri please ! So according to you I'm just as guily for seeing the showcases as much as those who killed the protected birds just for fun and ego-boost? Really ?
Unbelievable ..... not even worth commenting on this one.
ps
You - that write in a manner that gives the reader the impression that you are an honest person and hunter, and that you have never broken the hunting laws etc..... you, so you mean that you never saw a showcase full of stuffed protected birds? Hard to believe you haven't if you live in Malta. And if you have seen one, so by your failed argument, you are guilty too no?
Johnny Xerri
Sep 2nd 2010, 17:12
You are guilty because you have seen it and not reported. No I have never seen one except the one in the Natural Museum in Mdina. I have not seen show cases because I have no time to waste. I wake up early in the morning to hunt, thenof to work, then back home to do some self employment. The least thing that I have time for is a chat or a visit to other peoples houses. You see I am not such a typical maltese who goes 'jisindika' in other peoples homes. The only homes I visit are those of my parents, my inlaws and my sisters and brothers. In these homes there are no show cases. What an idiotic assumption to impose your believe that I have seen something that I have not!! By your judgement and reasoning simply because drugs are common amongst teens, I can assume that all parents with teens have either a pot growing in their house or in that of their neighbour? Or that they have seen pot?
C.Camilleri
Sep 1st 2010, 15:45
To all those who are not hunters: no. 1 this article has nothing to do with the hunters, no. 2 Dear Mr. Beacom, Do you know how many hunters committed suicide because hunting was banned? NO!!! What do you preafer people who drink and take drugs or people who hunt. I am 100% proud of my husband who is a hunter and I would never tell him not to go. So dear all of you who are against hunters GET A LIFE!!!!!!!!
renee' deguara
Sep 1st 2010, 16:27
YES MRS I AGREE WITH U - GET A LIFE AND LEAVE THE HUNTERS ALONE - THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS AS OTHERS AND EVERYBODY DO MISTAKES SO DO NOT JUDGE AS YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY GO THROUGH -- you have to be in it to understand it not just simply ban hunting - yes i agree some procedures had to be taken as unfortunately we maltese people take everything to an impossible level but as i already said even the government and birdlife had to justify their laws... what about those others who commit bribary that even far worse for our country.... MY HUSBAND IS A HUNTER AND AS YOU MRS I AM PROUD AND WILL CONTINUE TO URGE HIM TO PRACTISE HIS HOBBY....... BAN BIRDLIFE!!!!
Charles Vassallo
Sep 1st 2010, 17:11
@C.Camilleri
How many hunters did commit suicide? If hunters are contemplating suicide, then I should recommend them to see a psychiatrist, really. Do you know that hunters used to literally negelect their work and families during the longer hunting season?
Some time back I overheard in a restaurant in Mgarr (couldn't help it either because he was proudly yelling on the top of his voice that , quote " Il kacca l'ewwel w qabel kollox u ala %**$# mill familja u x xoghol, with a load of his neanderthal friends joining in the chorous approving his sublime statement.
Would you also agree with me if I tell you that certain hunters used to work only six months in a year just to practice this cruel and barbaric sport. If you call yourself real hunters, just visit a place in Africa armed only with a spear or knife, that will bring out the real hunter from the rest of you.
BTW... has anyone lately come across any headlines in the local papers reporting " Mass suicides due to the restriction of bird hunting"!?
S Azzopardi
Sep 2nd 2010, 10:06
If hunters are committing suicide due to not being able to hunt, then I'm sorry they are not fit to carry guns in our countryside.
Stefan Micallef
Sep 1st 2010, 14:15
otherwise i think birdlife wouldnt have said that they are here,of course if they dont wish something happens to them.
For all those who said that they heard shots yesterday or in the past weeks i would like to inform you that rabbit season was open during all summer till december.
I as a hunter hope that these birds will not get shot by POACHERS if they are still on malta.
Jonathan Beacom
Sep 1st 2010, 15:00
I never knew that they hunted for rabbits in the afternoon ! - Thanks for the info!!
m.anastasi
Sep 1st 2010, 15:10
One would imagine a bird finds some consolation in being shot by a hunter & not by a poacher.
D.Caruana
Sep 1st 2010, 15:22
Mr. Beacon,
The rabbit hunting season opened on the 1st of June and will end on the 31st of December.
All hunting (including rabbit) is banned after 3pm from the 15th to the 30th of september.
Johnny Xerri
Sep 1st 2010, 16:05
Jonathan rabiits are hunted early in the morning from a look out (bl ghasa) @ around midday by stalking from ridges and cliffs (tifriex), and during the rest of the day by walking them up with dogs (dawrien bil klieb). Then again at dusk by look out.
Given the strong wind we had rabbit hunters ventured in their fields and got a couple of shots because with the wind blowing the rabbits don't feel you. I have friends who in one day managed to bag 8 rabbits shooting a total of 17 shots in around 5 hours.
Johnny Xerri
Sep 1st 2010, 16:07
m anastasi,
No one would imagin that only poachers would be tainted and that only poachers would bear the grunt of the deed.
Can you please enlighten us of your social circle so that any wrong doing from this group will also be used to taint you?
D. Caruana
Sep 1st 2010, 14:15
If this is true - i also welcome this extremely rare occasion!!
However, Why do we have an archive picture and not the real picture of 20 white storks over Maltese countryside??
Let me tell you why as we have now grown very used to this.......tomorrow or soon enough BLM will report so many dead or shot at white storks but no real evidence will be provided.
This is becoming too predictable!!
Stephen Koludrovic
Sep 1st 2010, 14:06
I would suggest to these so called hunters to scrap their shotguns,buy themselves a good camera with a zoom lens and photograph these birds instead. Its just as exciting and at least they could have some recorded memories for later years.
Johnny Xerri
Sep 1st 2010, 15:58
Do they do that in your country, or in any country for all I care, since hunting is practiced all over the world, not just in the EU or in Malta.
You may use your camera on the 398 protected bird species + 32 game species, while we can use our gun on just 32 species. Why don't you grow up to accept that hunting is a world wide practiced activity, and that Maltese hunters have to have the same rights of amongst others the 17 million EU hunters?
marco meli
Sep 1st 2010, 16:35
technically speaking, these birds are a bit hard to photograph, mainly because they fly high, and most of the times they simply pass over malta, see there is no country side left and just continue their journey. Most hunters hunt turtle doves and quails, which are "abundant" (weather permitting). You just can't tell hunters to scrap their guns and photograph the later cause i dont think photo broth is edible !!!!! If you find it exiting to photograph birds, then good luck my friend, but i prefer to eat them!!!
Stephen Koludrovic
Sep 1st 2010, 17:30
Well My friend I hope you enjoy the lead in your broth, and not get lead poisoning.
David Bonello
Sep 1st 2010, 17:50
Mr Koludrovic, when you buy a ticket and fly back to where you came from, that is your country, cos you are not Maltese, then maybe i consider your suggestion, and besides taking my shotgun, i'll take a camera with me. Stop putting your nose where it doesn't belong and don't interfere with the way Maltese people want to live. You and the rest of the foreigners should talk about whats happening in your own countries.
V Falzon
Sep 1st 2010, 14:02
@ Anthony Formosa
So, the basis of your argument is that just because there was no photograph of the flock therefore the sighting of 20 storks must be a hoax or an exaggeration. Or is this the hunter's usual mantra that nothing much passes over Malta?
Whatever you meant, it is really of no consequence. Meanwhile allow me to cherish that recent memory as we watched the lovely flock sail high over Ghadira a few days ago..
Anthony Formosa
Sep 1st 2010, 15:19
So tell it to Mr James Borg and the rest that these birds were sailing high over Ghadira (Nature reserve) and kept on their way safely and not in a glass case as his wishful thinking. Meanwhile also allow to cherish that as from today the hunting season is open.
Johnny Xerri
Sep 1st 2010, 13:50
Where is there written in the article that these birds were, shot at blasted, shredded to pieces or disolved in thin air. The fact that BLM managed to take pics shows that they were not shot at.
@ Jennifer Soames & others who question why we feel happy to shoot such birds or any birds.
Well these birds are not to be shot at, It is illegal to shoot at these birds. On the otherhand, game birds can be shot. The pleasure arises from the fact that they are game birds that can be consumed.
Incidently may Ms Jennifer Soames & Mr Jonathan Beacom, please indicate from which country they come, and if hunting is banned in their home land? If not (as I already know since hunting is not banned in any country), they can direct the question of why birds are shot at their fellow citizens.
Jonathan Beacom
Sep 1st 2010, 14:55
@ Johnny,
I come from an Island called Malta. I am Maltese and have lived in Malta all my life!
I am a landscape photographer and have published many books on the Maltese Islands and my work has been used to promote our country around the world for over 25 years now.
Most of my work is shot at dawn and sunset, so I am out at about the same time as hunters. I have been shot at, threatened at gunpoint many times, and I have witnessed MANY brutal massacres of protected birds over the years.
YES, hunting of protected & endangered species IS banned in my 'home land'.
But unfortunately my country is FULL of 'men' who run around playing Rambo who shoot defenceless creatures...protected or not ..for the hell of it!
You hunters can keep on denying that the law is constantly being broken. But I see it with my own eyes practically each time I go out no matter which part of Malta I happen to visit.
Hunters - Get A Life !!
Johnny Xerri
Sep 1st 2010, 15:51
I seriously doubt your allegations since if you were shot at or even threatened at gun point you would have managed to get a few folk arrested and we would have seen a lot of recycling of your stories in the local media.
Secondly, I witness many traffic violations, but do I ask drivers to get a life or do I push for a ban?
Thirdly, if you witnessed so many massacres and if you are a ohotographer you surely should have a huge display. I call you bluff, will you call me bluff and organise an exhibition of the millions of protected nirds shot over the 25 years you mention.
Hunting is practiced all over the world....accept this and get a life!!!!
F Muscat
Sep 1st 2010, 16:12
Mr Xerri, I have been shot at and had stones thrown at my car.I have been threatened verbally with fists in my face. One of the guys who did that to me was a police officer(admittedly a few years ago). So who should I have complained to?.Despite the laws you still have amongst your fraternity more than a few rotten eggs and if you can't see that then you must also be blind.
Michael Pace
Sep 1st 2010, 16:35
"since hunting is not banned in any country" - I don't know about other countries, but here in Brazil, where I live (and where, incidentally, nobody asks me where I come from and sends me back home whenever I say anything somebody doesn't like) it is very definitely banned. Hunting any bird or reptile or animal etc. lands one in jail, with no chance of bail. And it's so pleasant to see and hear wild birds even in the middle of a half million population town as the one I live in.
S Saliba
Sep 1st 2010, 16:37
Come on Johnny !! You keep on denying that here in Malta hunting regulations are regularly and blatantly broken.
You call bluff people who have witnessed repeated protected bird massacres with their own two eyes. I have myself witnessed this on more than one occasion. Now call me bluff if you want and I will pity you once again.
Where do you live? In outer space? Reading the hundreds of comments of the common people here who directly witnessed illegal shootings alone should make you realise that you are so very far away and disconnected from the truth we live in.
And please.... please do yourself a favour and don't compare traffic violations to illegal shooting. For you own sake. Cars are used because they are necessary, while blasting anything that flies out of the sky is as far from necessary as you are disconnected from the illegal hunting jungle true situation here in Malta.
Yes sure, hunting is practiced all over the world, that's a pity. But the Maltese hunters' reputation and image has been gravely and permanently tarnished forever ... a direct effect of their own unlawful cowboy behaviour.
Anthony Formosa
Sep 1st 2010, 17:16
You hunters can keep on denying that the law is constantly being broken. But I see it with my own eyes practically each time I go out no matter which part of Malta I happen to visit.
Mr Beacom, As a landscape photographer, assuming with a high quality photographing equipment, how many brutal massacres have you shot as evidence with your camera? I'm certainly it will be your pleasure to pass them to the media. Have a look at how you can promote Malta in 2011.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100901/letters/filthy-pathway-at-ghajn-tuffieha-beach
Johnny Xerri
Sep 1st 2010, 21:19
@ S Saliba, cars are a necessity, but joy driving, tail gating, and traffic violations are not.
@ Michael Pace, inform yourself before commenting, Brazil does allow hunting in Rio Grande do Sul
Hunting is illegal throughout Brazil except in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. Traps are illegal and hunting must not be commercial in nature. However Brazilian law does allow for animals to be killed in self defence, if they are dangerous or as an essential source of food for self or family.
If they are dangerous (often excuse used to kill endangered species for fur), essential source of food (again rural communites claim that they need to hunt and are granted licences)
Yes illegal hunting odes happen, what I contest is the inflationary vision of millions & slaughterings and massacers. Come on not even millions migrate over Malta, let alone get killed. Needless to say even 1 raptor killed, is too much, but one can hardly speak of massacers, when at most in one season BLM report with proof (filmings) at max 12 protected birds. A massacre would be 100s not a dozzen
Steve Zammit
Sep 1st 2010, 13:46
Luckily these beautiful storks only soared high over the northern part of Malta, away from the reach of a gun and continued on their migration safely:)
@Jonathan Beacom
The shots you heard where not on these storks as these were sighted last week . Hope this clarifies for everyone...if they tried to rest in Malta they would have been bye bye long ago!!
@Adrian Cachia
Birds of Prey etc spend alot of time in the afternoons and evenings searching for a roosting site. Birds of Prey especially fly low over and spend alot of time flying in search of a decent site making them very vulnerable to illegal hunters. In the morning, at the first light, these type of birds fly out and continue their migration straight away without lingering here and there making them much less vulnerable of getting shot. I am not saying that I agree with the afternoon ban but it is being effective.
Thats why there is the afternoon ban Adrian, to make it more difficult for any idiot in trying to shoot down such graceful creatures which as I said are most vulnerable at that time!
Jonathan Beacom
Sep 1st 2010, 14:25
Thank goodness it wasn't the storks!
But there was a lot of shooting going on yesterday before the season opened!
As I write (14.25) I can hear gunshots again in Zebbug valley - I don't think they are shooting butterflies!!
With the change of weather I think we will see a few massacres this weekend !..... as usual...
Johnny Xerri
Sep 1st 2010, 16:08
the season was open, and has been since 1st June
Anthony Formosa
Sep 1st 2010, 13:30
A flock of 20 White Storks (Ċikonja Bajda) and the first migratory raptors have been seen by local birdwatchers this season, BirdLife said.
Yeah I had one already on my chimney this morning. :) Dear Antis please read carefully, these raptors were seen by the birdwatchers and they could have been seen kilometers away as we usually do, otherwise you will not see a picture from birdlife archive. However I still need to confirm this from the hunters view as we also monitor what we see.
Jason Borg
Sep 1st 2010, 13:59
True, Mr. Formosa - some hunters in fact permanently monitor these birds by keeping them enclosed in glass cases inside their homes.
Jeffrey Muscat
Sep 1st 2010, 13:30
lovely -- hope will see more of these -- hope hunters will leave them alone
E.Ciantar
Sep 1st 2010, 13:37
...while storks last...
David Dandria
Sep 1st 2010, 13:20
@Adrian Cachia
Birds of prey (as well as these beautiful storks) CANNOT be shot at any time of day or night all the year round whether searching for or leaving their roost. The afternoon hunting ban is there to make it more difficult for poacher-hunters to shoot them illegally.
Jonathan Beacom
Sep 1st 2010, 14:16
David,
(QUOTE) "The afternoon hunting ban is there to make it more difficult for poacher-hunters to shoot them illegally."
They just shoot them in the morning as they leave the trees - Go out at first light (any morning will do) and see for yourself.
That is the REALITY of the matter !
Jennifer Soames
Sep 1st 2010, 13:11
How can anyone not be repulsed by the hunters when they shoot such graceful birds? or any other bird?
S Bonello
Sep 1st 2010, 13:30
Unfortunately, there are people who actually TAKE PLEASURE in blasting such beautiful creatures out of the sky - just for fun.
Those people lack poetry inside their lives.
ps
I hope these Storks are able to leave Malta alive and well...... although I have my serious doubts
Johnny Xerri
Sep 1st 2010, 16:13
well we may lack poetry but we don't lack tolerance.
Unfortunatly the same cannot be said about you since you are ready to judge the Maltese hunters and willing to ban their hobby, and yet hunting is practiced on a world wide scale.
I shall not go into the merit of my academic records, but if ou think that hunters are a bunch of uneducated yobs, you are miles away from the target. Hunters graduate and hold good position jobs and form part of respecable society, whether you like it or not, with and without your insinuated lack of poetry
Anthony Formosa
Sep 1st 2010, 17:24
How can anyone not be repulsed by the hunters when they shoot such graceful birds? or any other bird?
Ms Jennifer Soames, how can anyone be repulsed by women when they abort such a defenseless gods creation human being? with the help of professional people who are suppose to save lives and not end lives.
S Azzopardi
Sep 2nd 2010, 10:03
Andrew Formosa, you call that a valid argument???
Women abort babies therefore it is ok to shoot birds.
You wouldn't happen be Head of Department of Logic at the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Malta would you???
Jesmond Micallef
Sep 1st 2010, 12:54
A natural flyer's body accomodates the air flow very precisely. A skill that us humans call "Aerodynamics". This lovely white stork has that embedded in its genes. We humans, go to school to learn it. The legs are long and slender, retracted backwards in order to streamline it, yet they keep the feathered body warm and dry away from the water when searching for food in shallow waters. The beak is also long and slender enabling pin point accuracy when catching fish or worms. The wings have a high aspect ratio enabling long flight with minimum effort. The wing tips are very cleverly feathered, a feature us humans try to replicate in order to reduce "induced drag" on our flying machines.
Pity some people choose to shoot whether it's these birds or indeed, my own fellow spieces, the human being, to which I am naturally biased.
A very lovely picture indeed.
Karl Consiglio
Sep 1st 2010, 12:29
Nice, keep an eye on them to bust any hunters that attempt to shoot.
r curmi
Sep 1st 2010, 12:20
any serouis police force to protect these beautiful creatures from our own "honest hunters" or the usual underforced ALE and the our hunters running amok as usual?
matthew brincat
Sep 1st 2010, 12:19
why does the sound "boom boom boom" props up to my mind? hmm i hope they get out from malta asap before some maniac shoots them
adrian agius
Sep 1st 2010, 12:17
let'a all hope they remain 20 by the end of this week.
I don't think it's a good idea publicising the arrivals of such beautifull birds on the media! You all know why !
Adrian Cachia
Sep 1st 2010, 12:14
Between September 15 and 30 hunting may not take place after 3 p.m. to protect migrating raptors, which at that time are flying low over Malta searching for a roost site and are therefore particularly vulnerable to illegal hunters.
How ridicilous is the above? You cannot shoot the bird when searching for a roost site...but you can shoot the bird down after a good night rest....
Jonathan Beacom
Sep 1st 2010, 12:10
So that explains the barrage of shotgun fire I heard yesterday evening (31st August) coming from the valley close to Zebbug (Malta)... the slaughter begins again...and a day before the hunting season!
The 'No Hunting after 3.00pm' law is a JOKE!
I know hunters who monitor which trees birds land in in the evening, they actually stay there till dawn and shoot the birds as they fly out of the trees, sometimes they don't even reach a meter above the tree and are blown to bits.
What a sad bunch of people ! - Don't they have anything better to do with their lives !
E Briffa
Sep 1st 2010, 13:38
Jonathan,
No, all indicates that they don't.
AAzzopardi
Sep 1st 2010, 12:07
min tant postijiet fid-dinja min fuq malta kellhom jaghdu msieken! mur ghidilhom x'welcome party se jkollhom!
M. Vella
Sep 1st 2010, 12:02
Let's see how long they will survive before the hunters start their firing squads!
Andrew Gatt
Sep 1st 2010, 12:06
Yawn...............zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..................got nothing better to say? Pffff!
anthony borg
Sep 1st 2010, 12:44
Let's be optimistic...BirdLife Malta has done valuable work in bringing the plight of migratory birds to the attention of all. And I am sure the local hunting lobby wants to be seen in a good light and abide by the rules.
I for one stand up to be counted as against all type of shooting at birds, illegal or otherwise.
A.Grech
Sep 1st 2010, 12:45
At least this flock left the Islands safely
Jason Borg
Sep 1st 2010, 13:22
Rest assured our Andrew will not harm the birds. He's always fast asleep. :-)
D Magro
Sep 1st 2010, 13:36
Good one Jason !! LOOOLL Jalla jorqdu kollha !!
Andrew Gatt
Sep 1st 2010, 13:46
Heh heh good one :)
No, was wide awake and all eyes and ears this morning but no luck! Saw a bunch of night herons though (kwakk).....nice.
Jason Borg
Sep 1st 2010, 14:26
Cajta nadifa ma taghmel hazin qatt. Grazzi Andrew.