Rare, protected spoonbills shot
This hunter reportedly fired six shots at passing protected spoonbills, just a few metres away from residences in Marsascala. Photo: Birdlife Malta.
Hunters illegally targeted rare, protected spoonbills as a record three flocks totalling around 70 birds sought shelter in the southeast from gale force winds over the past two days, Birdlife said yesterday.
Many vehicles followed the birds along the coast as the flocks dispersed to seek roost sites, the conservation NGO said in a statement.
Birdlife said it received several reports of illegal hunting, including a report of 11 spoonbills being killed in Delimara. The reports were forwarded to the Administrative Law Enforcement (ALE) unit, which sent patrols to the area.
Fieldworkers said they heard over 25 shots from St Thomas Bay and several more from Delimara, where a team was told the ALE had confiscated a shotgun.
Birdlife also received photos of a hunter who fired six shots at spoonbills within a few metres of residences in Marsascala. The photos were passed onto the ALE.
Yesterday morning at least 13 shots were heard in the St Thomas Bay area. Only six spoonbills were seen leaving their roosts, one of which had a dangling leg – an injury consistent with gunshot injuries – Birdlife said.
“These so-called hunters have shot at protected species during the closed season on their migration to their breeding grounds,” said Nicholas Barbara, Birdlife Malta policy and conservation officer. “The spoonbill is listed under Annex I of the Bird Directive and is considered a rare bird in Europe. We are hopeful the remaining spoonbills have made it safely off the islands,” he added.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
31 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
r sammut
Feb 20th 2011, 18:12
“These so-called hunters have shot at protected species during the closed season on their migration to their breeding grounds,” said Nicholas Barbara
I was not aware of any spoonbills arrivals and still less of them shot, until that is, reading the news on the timesofmalta.com! But then in the same breath the whole hunting community is being slumped with these acts! Black sheep are to be found here and everywhere. Why then the same argument is then shunned for other sectors in society; when other wrongs are committed?
It is the closed season… not for poachers though! They have it all for their illegal acts, without hindrance from any bona fide hunters!
I strongly condemn these occurrences. Shame shame shame, on those who committed such thoughtless acts!
Aimee Fenech
Feb 20th 2011, 16:58
I'm sick and tired of reading about this people, take away their guns and licenses and throw them in prison if you have to.
Obviously they have no respect for other people living in the area or the law.
V Falzon
Feb 20th 2011, 15:42
@ Joe Camilleri: "the spoonbil is not really a rare bird"
BirdLife International classifies the Eurasian Spoonbill's European status as RARE, as clearly stated in the article. It is of Least Concern on a global scale. If you cannot make or appreciate the distinction, others can.
V Falzon
Feb 20th 2011, 15:38
@ Joe Camilleri: "I bet that it is just a setup as the face is hidden after the gun."
For people like you, Joe, even a clip in high-definition 3D of the entire shooting and killing would be labelled a setup. Joe, if you want to do hunting a favour, you should simply condemn outright all atrocities that are committed, and urge your federation to clean itself and dismiss every law-breaking hunter that is caught red-handed.
V Falzon
Feb 20th 2011, 15:33
@ Joe Camilleri: "EMM why did the person who took the photo did not stop that poacher from shooting??? "
So, in your opinion the photographer should have walked up to the hunter and told him: "Look here, my good man, that is a protected bird and you should not shoot at it. Please stop!"
And the hunter would have seen the wisdom in these words, lowered his shotgun and offered the photographer a round of beer at the nearest bar. And they would have walked off, best buddies, into the sunset...
Hallina trid Sur Camilleri...
A.Damato
Feb 20th 2011, 14:54
@ Jason Borg- Ma nistax nifhem ghala qieghed thallat il-kacca legali ippratikata minn kaccaturi li tfisser li isir sparar minn nies licenzjati, fi stagun miftuh fuq speci li legalment tista issir kacca fuqhom ma sparar illegali imwettaq minn nies kriminali li jigu jaqghu u iqumu mil-ligijiet sia jekk hux stagun maghluq u anke jekk fuq speci protetti!!!
Pero forsi l-estremizmu tieghek kontra il-kacca qieghed jaghmik milli tara l-affarijiet fil-perspettiva reali taghhom !!!
Jiena kaccatur u nassab u dejjem irrispettajt il-ligijiet anke jekk xi drabi ma qbiltx maghhom u sa minn mindu ghalaq l-istagun tal-kacca jigifieri fil-31 ta Jannar, is-snieter tieghi kienu u ghadhom kollha gol vetrina. Ghallura jien x'ghandi x'naqsam ma dawn in-nies irresponsabbli li allegatament sparaw fuq dan it-tajr?? Ghala jien u hafna bhali ghandna nehlu habba dawn in-nies u ma ninaghtawx l-istagun tar-rebbiegha li gejt imwieghed ghall-darba, tnejn , tlieta!!!!
hemm l-awtoritajiet u huwa xogholhom li jaraw li dawn in-nies jitwaqqfu kif ukoll huwa xogholhom li jindirizzaw kull att kriminali li jezisti!!!
U nerga ntenni li dawn l-atti huma ta min jikkundanahom bil-qawwa kollha.
Jason Borg
Feb 20th 2011, 17:06
Mr. Damato - what I wrote was written by a hunter in an online forum and not by myself (as confirmed by other contributors below). It is not just conservationists but also law-abiding hunters who are complaining about widespread illegalities, which shows that illegal hunting is not limited to a handful of criminals, but is being done by a much, much bigger number of licensed hunters If you are what you say, then well done and keep it up, but I am afraid there are many who are not of your type.
Jason Borg
Feb 20th 2011, 12:56
I will believe that hunters are conservationists when they all will speak like this: Ma noqodux nghajru l-dak u l-iehor issa. Haqna ghar min hekk! Mahniex nies biex noqodu nduru fil-kampanja fil-harifa...ahseb u ara fir-rebbiegha!! Egoizmu sfrenat. Mhux kulhadd ta...l-maggoranza pero.
Johnny Xerri
Feb 20th 2011, 15:17
And I will believe that BLM are not just an organisation that thrives on these incidents when they publish their accounts and show us their wages and salaries....I would protect and lobby for the protection of any poor animal, including those poor mosquitos and cockroaches if I had the funds and wage they have...
I hope that after being so blant, BLM will take up my request and publish their accounts...come on prove me wrong and publish your accounts...show me its not a well paid job and that you are really dedicated and have got nothing to hide on how EU funds and local donations are spent. After all Mr Jason Borg, has enough time to follow up the FKNK forum, thus I believe that he or BLM has seen my request several times. So what is stopping them from proving me wrong, re their wages?
J. Borg
Feb 20th 2011, 16:58
Johnny Boy....
the unfortunate reality is that protected spoonbills have been shot.
Now unless you are going to claim that the criminal hunters that did this are some undercover CABS or BLM members - you can do the noble gesture and kick your fraternity to really do something about these sick minds amongst you.
If you are really so obessed with BLM accounts - why don't you simply write to the EC or Court of Auditors ...... who knows? they might even guide you on how to bring funds to Malta to effectively promote the environment.
Jason Borg
Feb 20th 2011, 17:10
Well, Mr. Xerri - I have been a member of BLM for a long time and I can assure you that in every annual general meeting, the AUDITED accounts are published for the satisfaction of one and all. If you are smelling any foul play, kindly refer your case to the relevant authorities. But something tells me you will not do such a thing, because what you are saying is empty wind.
Johnny Xerri
Feb 20th 2011, 20:26
Who is invited for the AGM? BLM members, the general public? I will rest my case, when they are published on their website or when some BLM admistrator replies online and tells me my wage/salary is € xxxxxx
Then people can judge why BLM put such efforts...so I will simply ask again....how much is the wage of BLM staff?
Johnny Xerri
Feb 20th 2011, 20:38
J. Borg...the way you address people speaks volumes about the level of respect you have for fellow citizens...and the level of education you have...in most cases when your argument is proven wrong you try to redicule your opponent...however, I will reply to your comment.
1. You should be perfectly aware that the EU or the Court of Auditors cannot supply such info, and BLM alone can discredit my theory (that they have hefty wages)...so why don't they do so?
2. Never have I supported illegal hunting, and FKNK has always expelled poachers who were found guilty by the court for major hunting infringments like the Natura 2000 vandals, and people whu were caught targeting birds of prey (not petty stuff like forgetting their licence at home, or being 49m from a road instead of 50m).
3. Why can fish be caught, yet birds cannot? Both can be farmed, so if hunters have to resort to farmed chicken, why cannot fishermen have their activity banned, and people eat only farmed fish?
Jason Borg,
It is not a question of foul play, but simply a question of hefty wages, not illegal, but would expose BLM as 'approfitaturi' & not dedicated staff.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Feb 20th 2011, 12:25
Let's hope this report is not the usual pre season propaganda and that the evidence provided will result to arrests and a court sentence that reflects the seriousness of such crime. We reiterate our position of zero tolerance and trust that should anyone be convicted of such crime, apart from having his hunter's membership revoked, his shotgun and hunting licenses are revoked by the courts.
The courts, should realize that only harsh and appropriate punishment will stamp out the few abusers that persist in blatant law breaking. Current penalties for bird crime, if enforced correctly, are more then appropriate. Unfortunately the judiciary often administers inadequate or inappropriate penalties which do not serve as a deterrent. Our numerous pleas that the judiciary should remedy such shortcoming have never been heeded.
Mark Mifsud Bonnici
Kaccaturi San Ubertu. K.S.U.
Jason Borg
Feb 20th 2011, 13:14
I have clear memories of false conspiracy theories blaming BirdLife employees for the destruction of trees at Foresta2000. Do you, readers, remember who was found guilty for cutting the trees?
Jason Borg
Feb 20th 2011, 21:49
A reply to Mr. Mifsud Bonnici's doubt that the killing of spoonbills is 'the usual pre season propaganda':
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110220/local/fknk-condemns-shooting-of-spoonbills
Joe Camilleri
Feb 20th 2011, 11:55
EMM why did the person who took the photo did not stop that poacher from shooting???
I do not know if this is the only photo, but if it is, I bet that it is just a setup as the face is hidden after the gun. That makes the person purley unrecognisable.
Also the spoonbil is not really a rare bird, as Barbara wants us to believe http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/144753/0 but none the less, since it is protected in Malta, it makes it illegal to shoot it
Steve Zammit
Feb 20th 2011, 14:28
It is listed as 'Least Concern' on a GLOBAL level. You should be well aware that the Spoobill is considered as a rare migrant on a LOCAL level here in Malta and also in the Mediterranean. I think that is why they said 'rare'...because this is their local status.
According to you, the Spoonbill is 'not really a rare bird'. Come on, please do tell us readers...how many Spoonbills have you seen in Malta? I personally have only seen this majestic bird once in my life. It may be recorded annually , but nonetheless it is still considered to be a rare species.
If the Spoonbill is not really rare as you state, I really wonder why they made such a fuss, because as you already know - they killed most of the spoonbills in a matter of hours of their arrival...
Tony Gatt
Feb 20th 2011, 14:57
It would take a very brave person to approach someone with a loaded shotgun and say "I say, old boy, would you mind not shooting at protected birds?" or words to that effect!
Michael Camileri
Feb 20th 2011, 16:59
You are right Tony. I would not approach these people. Mediterranean men clutching loaded weapons... not safe
R.Abela
Feb 20th 2011, 11:42
Once I had a conversation with a poacher, and tried to mock my arguements when I tried to explain to him that hunting is related only to game birds. He put forward his arguement that open season for hunting makes his poaching more at risk because "Hunters" like him files a police report when seeing him breaching the law, because there will be more hunters outside, and he will be watched more. So lets unite on this issue and all real hunters and bird watchers stop these criminals from putting shadows on our country. For these criminals open season or not does very little difference.
Anthony Formosa
Feb 20th 2011, 17:17
Not only that, they also use your property if it happens to be a good spot.
Edward Camilleri
Feb 20th 2011, 11:23
Its disgusting that we still have to witness such attrocities against these rare visitors. But what makes me more sad is the fact that despite the evidence we never hear of a sentence that is at least equal to the crime. This is the reason that these so called poachers continue to shoot indiscriminately.
Anthony Formosa
Feb 20th 2011, 10:35
Without justifying the matter, I believe that the title is already misleading the readers. These birds are rarely seen in Malta but according to the UICN they are listed as least concern. Nevertheless these birds are protected and on top of that they are not game birds.
For those who cannot define between poachers and hunters are only taking an advantage of this situation to jeopardize our long awaiting spring season for the two game birds turtle dove and quail. If we cannot define between poachers and hunters, then we cannot also define between drivers and racing drivers or drunken drivers, which most of us happened to be also drivers.
Jason Borg
Feb 20th 2011, 12:47
Anthony - the distinction is superfluous, since no hunting organization is working to get rid of these people. In fact, when responsible hunters complain about widespread illegalities in an online forum, their post is soon removed by the moderator, as was the case of a certain Muxuhunt.
Steve Zammit
Feb 20th 2011, 14:14
Anthony, it is listed as 'Least Concern' on a GLOBAL level. You should be well aware that the Spoobill is a rare migrant on a LOCAL level here in Malta and also in the Mediterranean. I think that is why they said 'rare'...because this is their local status
J. Borg
Feb 20th 2011, 15:07
the only two creatures that fly and are abundant in Malta are mosqitoes and flies.....
thus if you really have to shoot.......
Anthony Formosa
Feb 20th 2011, 16:58
@ Mr S.Zammit, precisely what I said, they are rare visitor in Malta but abundant elsewhere. And again I'm not trying to justify anything, I hope the culprit take what they deserve, but the antis should also keep in mind that there are thousands more that they have nothing to do with this.
Henry Fenech Azzopardi
Feb 20th 2011, 09:51
Yesterday there was an uunending list of blocgs on this subject mostly targeting the hunters, who are definetly not responsible for the wrong doing of the poachers.
Lets stop all these comments and unite with all kinds of amunitiion against these offenders. Every each one of us has a role to play. The majority have a mobile capeable of taking photos. Lets use this modern piece of technology to aim at these poachers and make them realise that the general public is against their brutal activity.
I am convinced that who took the above snap shot will be relieved when he will know that the culprit has been apprehended. This is the way forward and in no time these idividuals will learn their lesson. We also look forward for jail sentences. Everyone is fully aware of the consequences. It is only a matter of delivering harsh penalties and not just suspended sentences.
We real hunters look forward that the law is upheld and we should not be blamed for the wrong doing of the poachers. It is a closed season, aiming at protected birds and using illegal cartridge shots, with guns loaded with more than the required number of caridges.
Jason Borg
Feb 20th 2011, 12:52
CABS, Spring Watch and Raptor Camp have proved to be the most effective deterrant. Is that why hunters are against them?
Johnny Xerri
Feb 20th 2011, 09:38
Good, very happy that a shotgun was confiscated, and very happy that a photo is released...very sad that even if it wasnot my shotgun...and even if its not me in the pic, and even if I was at work when the spoonbills came...I will still be judged...
I abhor such behaviour for 3 main reasons;
1. The birds that are targted are not gamebirds and they need protection because they are vulnerable (that is wee conservation in hunting is found...rule number one only hunt species that are scientifically termed as least conservation status and are abundant).
2. These poachers give a bad name to the legal hunter.
3. The genralisation and banal comments that such behaviour results in...now we will hear sweeping comments that all hunters are poachers and extrimists measures calling for bans on hunting...
Poaching is a problem in all EU member states, yet no season was ever banned (obviously except during the 2007 season in Malta)