Migratory birds herald start of autumn migration
The first marsh harriers have already been spotted in Malta, the island being used by the birds as a resting spot before continuing their migration across the Mediterranean to Africa. Photo: Robert Camilleri
A flock of white storks and the first migratory raptors have heralded the start of the autumn migration season.
“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,” BirdLife said yesterday.
These include large numbers of birds of prey, whose migration peaks between September and early October when large numbers arrive in Malta in the late afternoon, flying low in search of roost sites to spend the night. Migration also coincides with the start of the autumn hunting season, which runs for five months from the September 1 to January 31 for 32 species of wild migratory birds.
Between September 15 and 30, hunting may not take place after 3 p.m. to protect the migrating raptors.
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M. Cardona
Sep 3rd 2010, 11:01
@ Mr Joe Aquilina Saint John.
rest assured that I have never ever denied the fact that I am a hunter and proud of it! At times I feel ashamed of certain misdeeds done by individual hunters but other than that I am proud of my affinity with nature! You may undoubtedly feel the same shame about the environmentalist who took hostages at Discovery station....NO?
I too do enjoy watching the same TV channels. More so, I avidly read on anything nature related and particularly on conservation, irrespective of the quarters wherein the literature originates. I concede that I do take some assertions with more than a pinch of salt. It remains however evident that the same cannot be surmised of your good self given the limited references you quoted.
I do believe that assumptions, allegations and unfounded parroting of hearsay are extremely harmful because they further the already wide divide between two very similar nature focused factions albeit differing in certain perspectives. In reality there ought to be consensus on particular issues, a joint understanding of respective interests and consequently working together towards sustainable enjoyment of both what is mutual as well as the differing respective aspects of both.
M. Cardona
Sep 3rd 2010, 10:38
@ Mr Jason Borg
with regards to your first question, does not merit further clarifications given your acquaintance with the subject concerned and your submitting the question simply clarifies further how figures are manipulated at random to fit the particular moment and the particular subjective agenda!
Regarding your second observation, kindly note that hundreds do not amount to the millions often mentioned!
And simply to put your mind at rest, have you ever read, "Fatal flight the Maltese obsession with killing birds" written by a local author? Your may remark that BLM did not publish that book and yet this very same book's figures and assertions are subsequently quoted as facts by BLM in their submissions to EU and consequently figures in different reports and plans such as The European Union's Management Plans.
Finally, with regards to your conclusion that 20 shots in 40 minutes amounts to a sure sign of availability of game, simply shows your lack of hands on knowledge of hunting. This is realistically more likely to be approximately 7 hunters shooting at the same dove or two. Trust me that's more like it.
I sincerely hope this has helped clarifications.
mario attard
Sep 2nd 2010, 20:10
How come we have not seen a photo of the white storks observed in Malta?!!! orrrr have they been only a dream ?!!! Oh sorry i forgot my camera this time..........?
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Sep 2nd 2010, 15:06
Jason Borg
You have answered the question (what would be 10,000+ hunters be doing in the field? ) to Mr. Cardona's yourself:
"There are better places than Malta to watch raptor migration - that is granted." indeed there are also better places for game bird migration. So in between my sips of coffee whilst watching the rising sun and your staring at nothing, we do get our small share of what we both enjoy assuming our country's limitations.
Personally I get a bit more then you do, as nothing beats a lovely turtle dove broth or a casserole of freshly shot quail.
If the number of hunters in the field should bother you, just think of the number of people watching a football game, most do nothing more then sit and watch, only few get the chance to shoot. So what exactly is your bother?
I've spent countless days waiting to take a shot, should that make my outings senseless? You seem to know Malta's migratory patterns pretty well it's about time you admitted the truth.
We are nowhere near anywhere that enjoys a decent migration and we all have our dreams.
Jason Borg
Sep 3rd 2010, 09:42
Mr. Mifsud Bonnici - I am sorry to note that for you, nature appreciation means sipping a few spoonfuls of brodu tal-gamiem. Also, please note that while hunters refer to unhuntable birds species as 'imbarazz', I find enjoyment in observing all bird species, so there is hardly ever a dull moment for me.
Lastly, can you remind us what you wrote last April, when three hunters vandalized over 100 trees at Foresta2000?
Jesmond Micallef
Sep 2nd 2010, 13:07
Looks like this Marsh Harrier has spotted a meal down below !! I just wonder what one would see through their own eyes !!
Simply - Picture Perfect !!
Johnny Xerri
Sep 2nd 2010, 16:30
have to agree, thats the beauty of nature....some species for the antis to enjoy....some for us to enjoy...
Anthony Formosa
Sep 2nd 2010, 13:01
Europe’s birds have once again started to leave their breeding grounds ahead of the winter months, moving towards their African wintering grounds.
Europe's birds, what does this means? do we make part of it or not?
As an island on the central migratory route, Malta is an important stepping stone for many birds as they cross over the Mediterranean,” BirdLife said yesterday.
Wrong, Malta is far away from the migratory route, many birds are seen kilometers away, when on ground we seen nothing.
Migration also coincides with the start of the autumn hunting season, which runs for five months from the September 1 to January 31 for 32 species of wild migratory birds.
Yest Like many other European countries we also hunt.
Between September 15 and 30, hunting may not take place after 3 p.m. to protect the migrating raptors.
ONLY IN MALTA.
joe aquilina-stjohn
Sep 2nd 2010, 11:08
It is so obviousthat M Cardona is a hunter. If he is interested in knowing the numbers of migratory birds travelling from Europe to Africa, he should tune into the tv channels Nat Geo Wild; National Geographic. Yes, hunters are blamed for the lack of birds from our skies...the only place where we can't hear the birds sing for the sound of blasting guns. The hunting season is due to start, but I have seen a hunter who lives down my street returning home with his gun under his arm, his bag in his hand, maybe to stuff any birds he killed to add to his numerous collection that adorns his home.
Anthony Formosa
Sep 2nd 2010, 15:54
Dear Mr Aquilina St John, unless you've just woke up from a coma, the hunting season started yesterday. You will not hear birds singing when they are in the sky. The hunter that you saw with a bag, it probably contains the rubbish that most of you leave behind.
Johnny Xerri
Sep 2nd 2010, 16:54
Come on Mr Aquilina-stjohn, if some many hunters come back home: "The hunting season is due to start, but I have seen a hunter who lives down my street returning home with his gun under his arm, his bag in his hand, maybe to stuff any birds he killed to add to his numerous collection that adorns his home." 1. The hunting season is not due to start but has already started, 1st June for rabbits, 1st September. 2. Have you any verification that the bags contained protected birds? Who would be so crazy to carry a bag full of birds, especially with such an inquisitive neighbour? 3. If the Maltese have such a wonderfull and extra-ordinary season, and if Malta is on a main migratory central flyway, then how may I ask Malta never attracks hunting tourists? On the contrary many Maltese, me included travel to hunt in other EU countries. 4. Why would the Maltese pay money (in excess of €4000) to hunt abroad for a week, when according to all the antis we shoot at any thing and we are blessed with being on a main migratory route?
Johnny Xerri
Sep 2nd 2010, 17:03
By the way Joe, on several hunting trips I often return with bags and rarely return empty handed. September I usually have a bag or two of grapes or prickly pears. October I usually have a bag or two of pomegrade or olives November & December its oranges. April its mostly; bean (ful ahdar), poatoes, onions, garlic... June its mostly; figs, peaches, apricots... You see apart from hunting, we tend to take care of the land, and in return we get some thing back. Some times when the land has not given me enough I pick the rubbish people tend to throw over the rubble wall.
M. Cardona
Sep 2nd 2010, 09:35
A very interesting tactic indeed;
quote millions, say that Malta is an important migratory stepping stone, repeat it often enough and surely the misinformed public will beleive just that.
Consequently, the same misinformed public will attribute the lack of sightings on the hunters when these millions are nowhere to be seen.
Very interesting! What's even more interesting is that one even gets funded to do just that!
I am in no way saying that locally no illegal practices occur and these are to be condemned forthwith and without reserve, but dear BLM do tone down some and then some more please otherwise one may be tempted to day-dream of being in autumnal Israel or Lebanon (bird migration) rather than in Malta.
"Buona Caccia" although as locally customary this will be so meagre and with negligible bags as opposed to BLM's MILLIONS.
Jason Borg
Sep 2nd 2010, 13:33
Mr. Cardona - can you please provide us with one single quote from a BirdLife publication in which the notorious millions are mentioned?
Secondly, from a good vantage point in Malta, you can watch hundreds of migrating raptors on a good day in September. There are better places than Malta to watch raptor migration - that is granted. But then you have to keep in mind that in most of Europe, you hardly notice that this migration is going on.
Lastly, yesterday afternoon I counted over 20 shots fired in 40 minutes and less than 200m from my house (good luck to them if it was on legal quarrey). It seems that migration in Malta is much better than you want us to believe. Otherwise, what would be 10,000+ hunters be doing in the field? Don't tell me its just for the thrill of watching the rising sun and chatting on two-way radios while sipping coffee!
Anthony Formosa
Sep 2nd 2010, 16:02
Mr. Cardona - can you please provide us with one single quote from a BirdLife publication in which the notorious millions are mentioned?
Mr Jason Borg, On the Birlife international which BLM is partner they even mentioned that 50,000,000. fifty million birds are slaghtered every year in Malta.
Lastly, yesterday afternoon I counted over 20 shots fired in 40 minutes and less than 200m from my house (good luck to them if it was on legal quarrey). It seems that migration in Malta is much better than you want us to believe. Otherwise, what would be 10,000+ hunters be doing in the field? Don't tell me its just for the thrill of watching the rising sun and chatting on two-way radios while sipping coffee!
You are showing me how ignorant you are on the subject. Abroad in 40 minutes they catch 100 birds, not like here everyone is shooting on the same bird to try his luck. Whi is to blame if the hunter was 199 meters away from your house? him or you who built your house in green area? with some blessings.
r sammut
Sep 2nd 2010, 16:07
@Jason Borg
‘But then you have to keep in mind that in most of Europe, you hardly notice that this migration is going on.’ Do you know why this is so, Mr Borg? Because there are no Birdlife Malta to kick the entire tantrum in other countries! You only need to look at bags had in the surrounding Mediterranean countries to realise if migration is taking place there or not!
The same reason why some time back, birdwatcher from Malta went to Sicily (I believe) to watch migration from there.
‘Otherwise, what would be 10,000+ hunters be doing in the field?’ Don’t you know why? Because that is the only alternative of open seasons we are left with, take it or leave it! Together with the further restrictions of the afternoon bans! Malta is the ONLY country implementing such harsh discriminating attitudes towards its own hunters’ community.
Johnny Xerri
Sep 2nd 2010, 16:27
Jason BLM would like to make us believe that Malta is on a main central migratory flyway, however, this is far from the truth. Any ornithologist or bird watcher worth his salt, would admit this.
This link is not from FKNK or any hunters site, but from an ornithologists site:
http://www.seen-net.eu/
One can see that the red lines are the major SE flyways, and the blue line is the other flyway. One can also see how far away we are from the SE flyway, and the closest flyway is still miles away.
Cerry on the cake, you claim that the rest of Europe does not know about this migration when the routes both major and the minor migrations pass on main land europe, but Malta knows about migration and is not even on a migration route!!!
As for yesterday, wow...20 shots in 40 mins...how many were on birds and how many were test shots on simple patterning plate? Did you have a look if it was less than 200 meters from your house you could very easily know what was being shot. It is quite customery to pattern ones gun and cartridgeson the 1st day.
Jason Borg
Sep 3rd 2010, 22:04
Mr. Xerri - you are mistaken. Those red lines represent the routes taken by certain broadwings only. For the rest, migration is on a broad front.
Also, what's the point of proving that Malta is not important for bird migration? Do you think this will permit you to go back to the free-for-all of the 1980's?
Johnny Xerri
Sep 4th 2010, 11:56
When did I ever ever say that I want a free for all?
When did FKNK ever say that hunters want a free for all?
What we want is a decent autumn season, in line with the birds directive, as practiced in all EU member states, and as practiced world wide.
What we want is a decent autumn season, in line with the birds directive, as practiced in some EU countries and as guaranteed in a referendum and election.
The point of stressing that Malta is not a central migratory flyway is simple. Firstly it is true and secondly we will not allow BLM to issue false statements.
If we had to happen to be on a main migratory flyway BLM and co could claim that we are hindering tens of millions of birds from reaching their destination. That we would be killing more than the 1% moratlity rate stipulated in the birds directive (i.e. max allowable during spring).
So once BLM have had their fantasy of autumn alternative shot down, they want to portray Malta as a main migratory route so that we would be pictured as surpassing the 1%
How naive do you think we are??
Jason Borg
Sep 4th 2010, 18:59
Prove what you claim, Mr. Formosa. I failed to find the quote you mentioned.
It also seems that the way you fire unfounded accusations (re. my property) is as inaccurate as as your shooting ability: WILD OFF THE MARK.
And finally, your distorted depiction of the hunting scene in Malta (everyone is shooting on the same bird to try his luck) reminds me of a Daffy Duck cartoon.