The extraordinary large influx of migrating birds, especially raptors, over the Maltese Islands, in the past few days was unprecedented, the hunters' federation (FKNK) said.
In a statement, the federation said that all day yesterday, thousands of honey buzzards, but also harriers, kestrels, some kites and other raptor species could be observed over the Maltese and Gozitan countryside.
It said in a statement it was extremely proud of its members and their behaviour - genuine hunters who enjoyed the marvellous scenery notwithstanding a very poor April hunting season with regards to turtle dove and quail migration. This was after four years of being deprived of their traditional socio-cultural passion of spring hunting.
The FKNK said it took note of the Committee Against Bird Slaughter's small team, at present in Malta, who remarked and reported "real progress after some 200 birds of prey in Miżieb were able to fly off unharmed despite the presence of some 50 persons with shotguns".
The FKNK said this statement needed just one correction – this morning at Miżieb, an FKNK Hunting Reserve, the genuine hunters in the area were close to 300.
The CABS team, this time "glaringly unaccompanied by BirdLife teams", also reported some illegalities, which the FKNK could also confirm.
The FKNK said that with the aid of its thousands of members and its commissioned security services company, and with the full collaboration of the police force, it lodged official detailed reports about confirmed illegalities, the vast majority of which occurred in the hours when hunting was not permitted.
"These reports will form an integral part of a report regarding the application of this spring's derogation, which the FKNK will eventually also submit to the EU Commission for its consideration," it said.
It reiterated and that it would not allow criminals to persist in shooting protected species to mar, in any manner, the efforts of genuine hunters.
It also repeated its warning that anyone arraigned on cases of illegal shooting on protected species and who happened to be within its members' ranks, would have his/her membership suspended with immediate effect.
If found guilty, the membership, without which a licence was unobtainable, would be cancelled.
REACTION TO BIRDLIFE'S STATEMENT
BirdLife International and Malta's statement this afternoon highlighted the fact that these entities persisted in tactics of confrontation using misleading information rather than collaboration for a common goal to be reached.
"The FKNK would have expected BirdLife to applaud the government on the success of the application of the derogation for this spring hunting season," it said.
It said it was more than certain that the truth would continue to surface and that the international sector would realise that it had other, more serious and pressing ornithological priorities for conserving Europe's natural heritage.