BirdLife Malta and the German organisation CABS (Committee Against Bird Slaughter) said today that they would be paying the police for extra escort duties during conservation camps due to start tomorrow.

In a joint statement, they said they welcomed the authorities' recent confirmation that police officers on extra duties would be assigned to the conservation camps to ensure the security of the bird watchers, who have faced many attacks in the past.

BirdLife and CABS last July requested police officers on extra duty, against payment by these organisations, after an escalation of violence against bird watchers.

The windscreen of a Raptor Camp car blasted with a shotgun while parked 20 meters from a children's playground, rocks were thrown at volunteers and two BirdLife volunteers were beaten up Dingli, among other incidents.

To date only the two aggressors who assaulted BirdLife volunteers in Dingli have been convicted, thanks to video evidence of the attack gathered and presented by BirdLife Malta.

BirdLife said its office had received many reports of illegal hunting after a storm brought many migratory birds into Malta seeking shelter.

A Common Kestrel from Delimara and a Purple Heron from Gozo - with two pellets embedded internally - were delivered to BirdLife office yesterday. An injured Grey Heron was also passed on to the ALE in Delimara. BirdLife also received a shot Night Heron with three internal pellets from Hal Far today and a shot Little Bittern from Marsa a few days ago.

Since the start of the hunting season BirdLife said it had recorded illegal shooting at protected species including Osprey, Honey-buzzard, Eleonora's Falcon, Hobby, Night Heron, Red Knot, Little Egret and Mediterranean Gull. Illegal sea hunting for protected Oystercatchers and Shelduck using high powered speedboats has also been recorded by BirdLife field teams.

A shot Turtle Dove, which may be legally hunted, was also received yesterday.

68 volunteers from 10 countries are joining the BirdLife and CABS conservation camps until September 26.

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