CABS to monitor Malta spring hunting
The Committee against Bird slaughter (CABS) has sharply criticised the opening of the spring hunting season for Turtle Dove and Quail and announced it will be monitoring the hunting that takes place.
“Killing migrant birds on their pre-nuptial flight represents direct and unacceptable intervention in the reproduction of these species” CABS President Heinz Schwarze said. “The majority of the 9,000 Turtle Doves and 2,500 Common Quail that the government has declared huntable are breeding birds. They will not reproduce again this year”.
"The female Turtle Dove has an annual reproduction rate of 1 - 2 offspring. CABS estimate that the killing of 9,000 adult birds in spring means that some 6,750 chicks fewer hatch in summer. To put this in perspective, the total Turtle Dove population in Switzerland is between 1,000 and 2,500 breeding pairs. Schwarze continues: “Quite independent of the legal aspects, the hunting of Turtle Dove and Quail in April is not sustainable and will only hasten the proven decline of both these species in many countries in Central Europe. We therefore appeal to all rational hunters to desist from hunting the birds in spring on the grounds of prudent conservation. If this injudicious killing continues, there will ultimately be little or nothing for hunters to legally shoot at in future years. This is of course not a new situation for Malta”.
CABS said it would conduct a 10-day bird protection camp in Malta towards the end of April in which some 12 Bird Guards will participate. Their main aim will be the recording of incidents of illegal hunting of protected species, particularly birds of prey. Their efforts will also focus on the search for illegally operated trapping installations as well as the locating of banned bird callers and reporting them to the police.
In addition, CABS said, it will monitor the permitted hunting of Turtle and Quail in order to ensure that it is carried out in accordance with the regulations announced by the Government.
CABS Operations Officer Axel Hirschfeld said the CABS teams would note the time and place of all observed cases of hunting of Turtle Dove and Quail, and will present their records to MEPA for comparison with the electronic text messages sent by hunters. They will also record incidents of hunting outside the permitted hours and compliance with the requirement for registered hunters to wear distinctive armbands.
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B.micallef
Apr 6th 2011, 13:45
Well done :-)
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Apr 6th 2011, 10:38
Barry Brown, are you so sure that "they have nothing to hide!"?!! Are you prepared to give that guarantee which they themselves, along with BLM, have NEVER been prepared to give??!!
Barry Brown
Apr 6th 2011, 09:09
CABS observers wear very distinctive T-Shirts - BIRD GUARD - don't they. Unlike others they have nothing to hide!
Andrew Pullicino
Apr 6th 2011, 00:54
my oh my! this piece of news has made my day! u halluna CABS!
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Apr 5th 2011, 21:16
Carmelo Aquilina, were are your manners? Please desist from addressing me by my first name! Sir, you seem to be missing the point! I strongly believe that OUR police force are good enough, moreso now that we will be having more police officers assigned to see that no illegalities occur. Were is your pride, Sir?! Before defending CABS, I suggest you ensure that they themselves are acting in a legal manner. I have long been requesting their guarantee that they are themselves 'clean' while roaming the countryside. Wonder of wonders, this guarantee has NEVER been given!
John Matthews
Apr 5th 2011, 20:22
I hope CABS representatives are also going to wear distinctive armbands so that they also can be recognised if venturing onto private property.
N Bartoli
Apr 5th 2011, 21:57
Why do you need to recognize them? ahh, let me guess...
C Cassar
Apr 6th 2011, 02:45
These are public rights of way. CABS and indeed ANY member of the public has the right to cross most of the land in the Maltese countryside, Just because some uneducated people put up signs (often spelt incorrectly) on land doesn't stop the rights of way for the public.
CABS have evry right to cross all land that has not been built on or designated as a place to live, which is most of the Maltese countryside.
m muscat
Apr 6th 2011, 07:18
there is no need for an arm band because they do not 1) have to right to enter onto private property..... technically even police require a permit or a very valid reason for entering on/ searching private property , 2) no point in identifying them because i dont care you come on my property I call the police and have you arrested for trespassing ..... and I'am not even a hunter simply a farmer who has seen to many idiots walk all over my products... these idiots most commonly being: ramblers, trekkers, and uneducated 'environmentalists'
john Matthews
Apr 6th 2011, 17:33
@ N Bartoli and C Cassar in particular. Read my comment again and again and again. My comment states PRIVATE property. C Cassar you may make comments about uneducated people making a spelling mistake but how about educated people making a reading mistake?
maria msucat
Apr 7th 2011, 08:15
@ C.Cassar ARE YOU SERIOUS??? no one has the right to step foot on private property which an individual has bought and paid for you want to ramble through the countryside invest in land and ramble away but my property is just that MINE!!! and when someone walks on it without my permission and blatantly ignore the signs (which are spelt correctly, and is irrelevant to your arguement)I will call the police and have them arrested for tresspassing
r sammut
Apr 5th 2011, 20:22
Search on CABS own website, Malta come way below what actually happens in their own back yard! And then not all their irregularities figure on this site; for example the killings of thirty one swans, yes 31 shot in England, are not to be found! Unlike irregularities taking place over here; are blown to the four winds, twice over! One term about charity is certainly missing out of CABS’ vocabulary; for that to begin at home!
Such cheap stunts on tiny Malta certainly make good publicity to plump the CABS’ revenues! That, without harming their native lands’ ethos! But then again, why shouldn’t they be welcomed here, when even a few locals applaud such extremist behaviour!?!
Karl Consiglio
Apr 5th 2011, 19:20
Thank God for CABS!
Anthony Formosa
Apr 5th 2011, 18:46
I have no objection with their visit and observe protected species. CABS must not provoke Maltese hunters when they are practicing their legal rights or else they shall be prosecuted.
Johnny Xerri
Apr 5th 2011, 18:30
Interesting enough BLM have always claimed that they are not anti-hunting but simply anti-illegal hunting. They were against spring hunting because they claimed it is illegal...however, the ECJ proved otherwise and the EU Commission accepted this...
But as in every extremist managed organisation...when Plan A (miserably) fails, we get into the next stage and now its Plan B. Its no longer illegal for their CABS bubbies now its "Quite independent of the legal aspects..." So now that their buddies confirmed (rather diplomatically) that spring hunting is not illegal when will BLM accept the fact that it is legal...and since they have no problem with legal hunting...acknowledge that spring hunting is possible?
Never because that would firstly put at risk their employement and secondly imply that they are not after banning illegal hunting but after banning legal spring hunting. How credible BLM can be when they cannot even be trusted with interpreting the Birds Directive.
G Micallef
Apr 5th 2011, 20:39
Legal hunting permits the taking of 9000 turtle dove and 2500 quail. Moreover, the max daily quota is 1. Therefore, if a hunter kills one bird and continues to hunt, he is hunting illegally. If an sms is not sent when a bird is killed, the bird was killed illegally. If more than the total quota is killed because of unrecorded killings, further hunting would be illegal. Hunting after 3pm and on public holidays is illegal. The derogation is very tight and hunting legal quarry can very easliy become illegal, or in hunters' terms, poaching. The line is very fine this time. If all hunters are to abide by the very strict laws I do not understand the hunters' concern on CABS. Have any CABS members been charged with prepassing? Have hunters been convicted of poaching on evidence provided by CABS? Have people been convicted of threatening CABS personnel in Mizieb, the FKNK hunting reserve? I assume you know all the answers. If all hunters obey the law, CABS will go home with no evidence. If you want to ridicule them just do not give them more ammo. Very simple.
Edward Camilleri
Apr 5th 2011, 18:10
Welcome CABS! Yes its a great idea to monitor 'legal' hunting besides illegal hunting, since the authorities will not take this seriously. Just by announcing a restricted hunting period without announcing effective measures to control illegal activity, they have literally opened the season as it used to be, which is illegal.
Those protesting below are just doing this because they know they will do illegal activities. Otherwise they will not protest for someone that comes to monitor.
As regards MEPA or whoever is handling the SMSs, they should make this online on a web site, in real time, so anyone can cross verify.
Johnny Xerri
Apr 5th 2011, 20:25
Dear Mr Camilleri,
Could the tax dept make tax retruns available in real time so that the public can verify?
CABS can come whenever they like...but only after they sort out their country's illegalities...
M. Cardona
Apr 5th 2011, 16:22
"CABS Operations Officer Axel Hirschfeld said the CABS teams would note the time and place of all observed cases of hunting of Turtle Dove and Quail, and will present their records to MEPA for comparison with the electronic text messages sent by hunters"
What's the authority vested in CABS to monitor a LEGAL activity? Monitoring in this case is tantamount to persecution and STALKING. Authorities please take note. Hunters do take note as well and report any activities to this effect!
Martin Pisani
Apr 5th 2011, 15:48
Cheap holiday in Malta, now thats the cause
With hunting the excuse, its just a war.
A few birds shot with the blessing of Brussels
Here come the CABS to show their muscle.
What they are blind to see,
Is what goes on in their own country,
Tiny Malta, just a spot on the maps,
A few more tourists disguised as CABS.
15th April will soon be here,
I'll be out in my camo,have no fear
Just a quail or a dove, maybe 1 a day but not 2,
We're tiny Maltesers being told what to do.
I think that with my poem everyone will chuckle,
Those who might argue must not show a knuckle.
A few simple words about hunting in Spring.
CABS- Can Always Be Shooting....In Germany its a sure thing!!!!!!
Martin Pisani
MARIO SALNITRO
Apr 5th 2011, 20:47
TAJBA MARTIN IMMA INSEJT TGHIDILHOM BIX MA JIDHLUX GEWWA ART PRIVATA !!!!
L Camilleri
Apr 5th 2011, 15:18
This year's spring hunting opens on 13 April and up to Tuesday 5th April hunters have to register to shhot down turtle doves and quail. In Gozo, particularly in Xaghra the hunters arbitrarily decided when the season opens - shooting started over a week earlier. What I cannot understand is why shooting and not trapping is permitted. Besides the latter guaranteeing the species not becoming extinct as they may breed in captivity it also helps to restrict shooting as less space will be available to hunters. While the hunter can follow the bird and has the whole hill/valley/countryside in his aim, the trapper has to stay in one place waiting for the birds to come if these are lucky enough to avoid the pellets.
Johnny Xerri
Apr 5th 2011, 15:17
Quite independent of the legal aspects - so now CABS are doubting what they and BLM had claimed, i.e. that spring hunting is illegal?
CABS would better sort out their own countries problem...how wise they come to protect birds of prey...when they are legal game in their own country..."All raptor species in Germany are still officially categorised as ’huntable wildlife"
In Germany, CABS homeland raptors are poisoned, trapped, hunted and decimated illegally on such large scales that CABS is more interested to give up and tackle tiny Malta.
http://www.komitee.de/en/projects/germany/raptor-poaching
http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/?p=3717
http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/?p=3412
http://europeanraptors.org/category/eagles/
Whats your problem? Given up on your home land? Up for a cheap holiday?
But he worst is that some submissive Maltese welcomes these clowns who cannot solve the problems in their country as if some VIP is coming over!!!
Poaching must stop, but CABS come from a much much worst situation...if they have fail in their country...what right do they have to impose on ours?
You don't approve of our spring hunting...tough...if the it is inline with the Birds Directive...then we do not need your approval.
S Vella
Apr 5th 2011, 16:09
@ Johnny Xerri
Well done Mr Xerri
Thank you for sharing with us those disgusting sites of raptors killed in Leading EU countries such as Germany and the UK were most of the CABS come from and some Maltese look at them as if they are our saviours. It is very good to publish these masacres and to see the beam in your eye before commenting about the straw in your brother's eye...
When you settle your problems in your country then you may come to Malta and try to do the job of our police but I am sure you are enjoying your holidays here trying to obscure us.
You may go and see the centres were we are welcoming the illigal immigrants while you are here and report what a problem were are facing such a small densly populated island Dear Cabs!
Jason Borg
Apr 5th 2011, 17:56
And who is killing these birds, Mr.Xerri? Is it conservationists or hunters and game-keepers?
Johnny Xerri
Apr 5th 2011, 20:21
@ Jason Borg,
Certainly not the Maltese hunters...so these German 'conservation' group should first and foremost sort out their own country and then impose on other that even if a season is legalMaltese hunters should refrain.
Why don't they dish outthat comment to their home land hunters?
Why don't they sort out their country first?
Could it be that they want to sort out another country so they enjoy a cheap holiday?
Johnny Xerri
Apr 6th 2011, 09:41
Surely not the Maltese hunter....so if they cannot keep their nationals in order...they certainly should not have the the arogance to impose on us and appeal to us that.."Quite independent of the legal aspects.... appeal to all rational hunters to desist from hunting the birds in spring on the grounds of prudent conservation"
If they cannot conrol illegal hunting in their country, if they cannot lobby for raptor not to remain officially still huntable species, then who the heck do they think they are to impose on us and object to a season in line with the ECJ ruling.
For the sake of the argument they claim that our 9000 doves hunted during spring could result in 6750 less chicks....well what will the 2-3 million autumn turtle doves result in if they had not been killed? http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/wildbirds/hunting/docs/turtle_dove.pdf
What would the 2,299,984 birds hunted in Germany result in?
http://www.komitee.de/en/projects/hunting-bags/bag-statistics-country
Jason Borg normally countries that preach to others are in better situations not in worst situations
S Vella
Apr 7th 2011, 16:07
@Jason Borg
NO it is not hunters killing those birds.
those are so called POACHERS unless they have special permission to kill them in these saintly countries, and I am not joking because it is not the first time we read that raptors are poisoned because they are considered as pests! even in advanced countries like these. Shooting or poisoning them will still eventually kill them!
As Mr Xerri told you, they should started with solving their problems at home before coming to our homeland pretending to be more Christians than the pope!
S VELLA
Apr 5th 2011, 14:58
NO TRESSPASSING PLEASE!!!
IN MY PRIVATE PROPERTY.
I SUGGEST THAT YOU GO AND MONITOR THE SITUATION IN AFRICAN COUNTRIES WERE MANSLAUGHTER IS DOMINATING THE WORLD NEWS!
OUR POLICE ARE RELIABLE AND EFFICIENT AND ANYONE TRYING TO DO THEIR JOB WILL BE HUMILIATING THEM AND OFFENDING THEIR CREDIBILITY.
Micallef P
Apr 5th 2011, 14:53
CABS President Heinz Schwarze and CABS, why don;t you see what happens in your own countries and stop interfering in our affairs?
M.Debono
Apr 5th 2011, 14:47
Time to brush up on 'the hunter's guide to German swearwords'
C. Borg
Apr 5th 2011, 14:07
Welcome to a Cheap Holiday in Malta. In a four star hotel full board for 24Euro a day. Good bargain. Can't you stay in your country and make your petrols there!? Look at this: http://www.komitee.de/en/projects/germany
Why you want to come to Malta because the gov & BLM gives you good rates for your holiday?
Because in Malta you can bend any rule, especially the DATA PROTECTION ACT
And once again, watch this, http://www.komitee.de/en/projects/hunting-bags/bag-statistics-country Malta is in the 17 place. Germany 3rd and UK 2. Its MALTA you see...... what is 400K with 17M ? The Maltese bag limit is 2.35% to that of Germany and 1.82% to that of the UK,(The 2 "BIG BOSSES" of CABS that want to come to monitor Malta) so what is the big deal here if we catch a turtle dove or a common quail??
These are all facts that are on the CABS website. Why don't they do their utmost to reduce their catches NOT in MALTA but. Using the above figures, what is left to the Maltese hunter to hunt in autumn if they catch all these numbers. We are the last stepping stone to Africa, so no wonder our season is poor...
john borg
Apr 5th 2011, 13:56
can we call this cabs tactic .......counting the chicken before they hatch
an estimated 500,000 birds are killed by cats every year in the uk alone...these are also birds that will never nest, but so far no special licences have been issued to cats, and for the statistic thats over 50 times the birds hunted in malta
salvu abela
Apr 5th 2011, 19:10
@ john borg,
Sorry but you got the wrong figure ,it is 55,000,000 (55 million).
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/cats-birds.html#cr
http://www.nspca.co.za/page.aspx?Id=99&CateId=20&Category=Wildlife&SubCateId=99&SubCategory=Cats%20&%20Birds
http://www.care2.com/news/member/100041282/1543171
censu attard
Apr 5th 2011, 13:42
Does any member of CABs work in any of these factories by any chance ?
http://www.steyr-mannlicher.com/index.php?id=99
http://www.sigsauer.com/AboutUs/History.aspx
http://www.heckler-koch.com/HKWeb/show/frameStart
http://www.glock.com/deutsch/index_contact.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Firearms_manufacturers_in_Germany
http://www.gunmaker.org/index.html
http://www.rottweil-munition.com/en/rottweil/index.htm?navid=2
http://www.rws-munition.de/en/about-us.html
I think it`s best for them to try and stop these firearms manufacturing plants first so that less fire-arms will be used for hunting and shooting, before they start coming and ordering the Maltese what to do.
Bonello David
Apr 5th 2011, 13:38
I hope CABS will provide evidence of birds shot, not count the shots fired and start counting millions as usual, as there will be a lot of hunters training their dogs with blank shots. For the law abiding hunters in their majority, they don't mind Cabs as long as they abide by the law as well, like staying off private lands. I hope as well that we don't start seeing CABS showing dead protected birds cos they have a habit of finding dead birds more than the hunting dogs. Last and not least, the Concentration Camps time is a thing of the past. I urge all maltese hunters to abide by the law and to ignore all provocative situations. HAPPY SPRING HUNTING!!!!!!!
C Cassar
Apr 5th 2011, 13:36
Yep, fantastic to see some people who are actually educated and experienced in the subject of bird migration. Thanks to the EU these people can come to Malta unobstructed by paperwork etc.It's a shame the Maltese can't realise that the birsd that they see in Malta don't belong to them. They belong to the whole of Europe and the people in the whole of Europe should be allowed to enjoy these birsd and their offspring in future years.
Looks like a group of Maltese are about to be taught a big lesson in conservation during April.
Fabian Borg
Apr 5th 2011, 13:34
CABS, you should direct your critisism directly to the person who wrote the birds directive as it is the same directive which allows spring hunting by derogation.
No use accusing the Maltese Government for correctly abiding by the rules and opening a limited spring hunting season.
However we expect much of your wicked tactics and photos of dead/wounded protected species. Please try to catch the culprits this time and help bringing them to court if you really are up to your name and leave the honest hunters alone to practice what has been always theirs and unrightfully taken away.
M Borg
Apr 5th 2011, 13:27
Mr Schwarze, how can you compare the number of turtle doves huntable in one country in a specific region (in this case Malta) with the turtle dove population in a different country based in a different region (in this case Switzerland). Are you joking or maybe you think that we Maltse (and also some non-Maltese) are stupid people? Can i ever compare the number of Roe Deer, the Russian Boar, Fellow Deer, Muflon Sheep and Red Deer being hunted in Germany with their population in Malta???!!! Do you ever criticise the hunting in your home country? Are you aware that in your country, Germany, Boar hunting is also done at night, during the bright phases of full moon?
And what about the Ferruginous Duck (protected under the Berne Convention? This is one of the most rare breeding birds in Germany, but their shooting continues during their breeding season, something which was fiercely criticised by the European Nature Heritage Fund EuroNatur. Do CABS monitor this hunting in Germany?
we need answers and facts Mr Schwarze and Mr Hirschfeld, not speculation and manipulation of media.
V Roesch
Apr 6th 2011, 09:48
Of course it is nonsense to compare the population of roe deer in Malta with the one in Switzerland. But are roe deer migratory birds like turtle doves and quails???? NO! It´s comparing apples with oranges. The doves shot in Malta in spring will not be able to return to the countries where they breed. So if 2000 doves are shot, these birds actually belong to the breeding population of Switzerland and its surrounding countries. These are European birds, they don´t belong to Malta.
Johnny Xerri
Apr 6th 2011, 15:41
V Roesch,
So what are you suggesting, V Roesch?
That we denounce our rights, as given to us by the Birds Directive and the European Court of Justice, and leave them pass over?
Then after they breed they become legal game for that country. So let me understand...2-3million turtle doves can be killed each autumn by other EU countries....yet we cannot catch our legal quota...very reasonable I guess?
Incedently of can you please disclose your nationality so that I could provide you with a list of migratory birds that are hunted in your homeland?
Some people may believe that they are God's gift to humanity...but they should thank God for giving them humanity that enacted laws that keeps their own extremism in place.
maria msucat
Apr 7th 2011, 08:11
@ V Roesch are you challenged? quote These are European birds, they don´t belong to Malta. unquote you must be to makle a statement like this because: Malta is a European country thereby if these are European birds then technically the Maltese are entitled to them also these migratory patterns have been in place for centuries & hunters have been hunting them for centuries, the population 1.2- 2.2 million BREEDING pairs in Europe alone its not like they are on the verge of extinction. Malta technically has the same quota as everyone else in population relation thereby Malta is the least of Europes problems however since everyone has attached a target to us it deflects from what is really going on in their own countries
Of course it is nonsense to compare the population of roe deer in Malta with the one in Switzerland. But are roe deer migratory birds like turtle doves and quails???? NO! It´s comparing apples with oranges. The doves shot in Malta in spring will not be able to return to the countries where they breed. So if 2000 doves are shot, these birds actually belong to the breeding population of Switzerland and its surrounding countries.
Paul Barrett
Apr 5th 2011, 13:25
Has the hunting season started - there were at least three gunshots fired last night in the area of the Salt Pans by Kennedy Grove.
Jason Borg
Apr 5th 2011, 17:58
There was a Spoonbill yesterday afternoon at Salini. So that may explain the shooting.
Ryan Agius
Apr 5th 2011, 13:23
Welcome to Malta but please try to say the truth now do not photocopy your Friends Birdlifs now that we know exactly what the birdlife is trying to do please do not support them in all the false statements.
G. Grech
Apr 5th 2011, 13:12
It's thanks to CABS that the hunters were partially brought under control. More work still has to be done, and I hope the authorities in Malta take reasonability for what the citizen pays them for.
...now, let the slaughter begin ....are you not being entertained ?
This time, the hunters will be sending an SMS for every bird they kill, and this is not a joke.
Joe Camilleri
Apr 5th 2011, 13:12
The usual BLA BLA BLA.
Comming here for a free holiday in sunny Malta.
Joe Hennon the spokesperson for the Commissioner for Environment said that they would only honour data that comes from the govt of the member states
So now you know what you can do with your exagerated reports.
Ernest Vella
Apr 5th 2011, 13:09
This is a pure attack on our independence and they instigate violene. I renew my invitation not to enter in my property, for they will be reported immediatly to the authorities for entering private property.
G>pisani
Apr 5th 2011, 13:05
Thank you CABS for your dedication.
Kurt Caruana
Apr 5th 2011, 13:05
I totally agree and welcome this initiative... but hope that CABS respects the hunters that are not breaking the law...
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Apr 5th 2011, 13:03
Seeing that the Government has imposed a €50 Special Licence Fee which will be used so that there will be 7 Police Officers per 1000 hunters, I cannot see how the Maltese Government should now allow such monitoring by CABS. We all know what these are prepared to do to try and ban hunting. As one of them has stated, namely David Conlin: "We will not relent in our activity until Malta is a bird hunting free zone". I can already see their many exagerrated and inflated reports. They asked for prudence from the Maltese Hunters when they themselves do not seem to know the meaning of it. Sirs, you along with BLM have been exposed of your lies that Spring Hunting Season is illegal. Our Maltese Hunters have been robbed of their Spring Hunting Season for the past 3 / 4 years. So please, CABS, BLM and Co, try showing some prudence yourselves and let the Maltese Hunters rightfully enjoy their Spring Hunting Season in a LEGAL manner. SPRING HUNTING IS LEGAL!!!
carmelo aquilina
Apr 5th 2011, 15:05
Sylvana you miss the point entirely - they are checking to see if ILLEGAL hunting is taking place (e.g. protected species and people who are not reporting their catches). If CABS report that all is well then Spring Hunting as allowed currently will continue . If ILLEGAL huinting takes place then this will jeapordise all hunting which is why you and all the other apologists should welcome these people to show that there is nothing to worry about.... transparency openness and accountability should sit well with the" zero tolerance to illegalities" huner's organisations shouldn't they ? Or is this a case of poachers using the limited hunting derogation for Spring to continue well documented illegalities....
Kleaven Maniscalco
Apr 5th 2011, 12:58
Ghalmenu issa jekk jaslu il klandestini mill-libja ma jahsbux li regaw habtu mal-libja.
jeff borg
Apr 5th 2011, 12:57
shame on EU !!!!!! BIG TIME.....
fuq dawn ic cucati ha jibatu n nies ghassa....ghall imigranti xejn mbad ghajnuna!
Maria Muscat
Apr 5th 2011, 12:56
1) Monitor all you want but you cant enter onto private property!!!
2) To all those who want the real picture refer to page 15b of the following doc. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/wildbirds/hunting/docs/turtle_dove.pdf
becasue it appears CABS failed to put the figure: 650000 (Spain) breeding pairs so let me put this in prospective for CABS: according to same text you quoted from: the total EU breeding population is 1.2 -2.2 million therefore the 9000 our hunters are 'entitled' to is in actual fact 0.409% of the general population thus not as dramatic as you make it appear by reffering switzerlands statistics and trying give the impression that the population is dwindling and will possibly extinct if we can hunt those 9000!
3) lastly: Their efforts will also focus on the SEARCH for illegally operated trapping installations as well as the locating of banned bird callers and reporting them to the police: I would like to focus on the word 'search' does this mean you are permitted to enter private property and search or only froma distance because i believe to find these devices you would actually be breaking & entering!!
R.Caruana
Apr 5th 2011, 12:52
Welcome to Malta, and thank you for protecting our countryside even though this job should be done by someone else.
Marcel Dingli
Apr 5th 2011, 13:12
Lets hope they will respect private property in the process.
Sharon Mula
Apr 5th 2011, 13:14
Well said!
Francis Caruana
Apr 5th 2011, 13:27
A very stupid statement!!!!
But I must comment on the issue of turtle doves and quail reproduction as mentioned in this page. Hunting during spring migration in Malta has been banned since 2007 and ever since that year migration of these species over Malta has gone from bad to worse. Incidentally the only one day when we can say that we saw a good, not very good, turtle dove migration was on the 14th April 2008, just a year after the ban was effected.
So we surely cannot say that forbidding hunting for these species during spring has increased their number and it is not fair to impede Maltese hunters to hunt such game birds when such results have not been reached.
Ray Zammit
Apr 5th 2011, 13:40
What a contrast, CABS should monitor whats happening else where, such as North Africa & most of the Arab Countries, am not against bird watchers etc, innocent people are being slaughtered by the minute! Go where you can protect these people or do something about it, maybe you're organization will gain more respect.
Ian Xuereb
Apr 5th 2011, 14:06
Its a real pity that they courageous guy did not lived in the Hitler era because they could have monitored the killing of the millions of Jews that occoured in their country. We don't need your help here. We have the police who are good enough to do their job. Stay home cabs!!!!!!!!!!
J.Agius
Apr 5th 2011, 14:07
If monitoring should be some one else it could be yourself.At least you are Maltese.Sorry foreingn cabs should not be welcomed to Malta.They should see the wrong doings in their countries.
J.Agius
G. Grech
Apr 5th 2011, 21:00
Certainly the hunters shiver when they hear "CABS". A couple of comments here testify !
R.Caruana
Apr 6th 2011, 08:27
Kemm tibzaw mill-CABS qed nghid!