Two hunters have been found guilty by the court of threatening CABS volunteer, Fiona Burrows, 26, of Nottingham, BirdLife said.

They were also found guilty of breaching the peace at Mizieb last September.

Both were conditionally discharged for 18 months and ordered not to approach Ms Burrows for a set period of time subject to a fine.

The two hunters were reported to the police after an incident which took place during a search for dead protected birds at the Mizieb woodland, carried out by BirdLife Malta and CABS last September 20.

During the search Ms Burrows was approached by the two men, who started shouting at her, grabbed and shook her, and attempted to take the remains of the dead protected birds she found, BirdLife said.

Over 280 dead birds stashed throughout the Mizieb woodland were unearthed by BirdLife Malta and CABS in 2009 and 2010.

The remains of the birds were handed over to MEPA and the police. Both conservation organisations called for an investigation but no results had been communicated to date.