A hunter’s weak reply

I shall try and answer David Borg Cardona’s weak letter (The Sunday Times, June 5) point by point.

I have not been hibernating. I write when I have reason to do so and the three-week hunting farce was a good reason.

Yes, workers like me who live in the countryside dislike being woken up by shots at 4 a.m. when we have to go to work a few hours later. How would Mr Borg Cardona like to have a car hooting its horn in the middle of the night under his window? If he does, I will be very pleased to provide this entertainment.

Yes, about 50 honey buzzards for a few hours managed to escape the hunters’ cruelty. Most of Bidnija saw them gracefully descending into the trees. Now these birds must be gracing some troglodyte’s showcase.

Furthermore, like thousands of environmentalists, I object to being deprived of the opportunity to watch thousands of birds flying in our skies as one sees in neighbouring islands.

Concerning calls to the police and Birdlife, unfortunately over 15 minutes elapse before they arrive on the scene, and in most cases the hunters have time to shoot and make off with their booty.

Concerning the hoopoe which delighted me for four days in my garden, Mr Borg Cardona was obviously spending his time hunting instead of reading your newspaper. Otherwise he would have noticed that following my first letter I produced a photo of the hoopoe actually eating worms on my lawn.

If the hunters wish to redeem themselves all they have to do is to finance a group of independent gamekeepers to keep a 24-hour daily vigil in hunting areas.

Then perhaps all Malta can enjoy the countryside in peace and tranquillity.