Hunters return birds to nature

Fifty turtle doves were “returned to nature” by the hunters’ federation yesterday during a celebration of the hard toils of farmers and growers at Buskett Gardens.

The birds, bred in captivity and closed-ringed by the federation, were released into the wild in a symbolic gesture where hunters were giving back something to nature, federation president, Joe Perici Calascione said.

The turtle doves are trained in large enclosures with as little imprinting as possible before being released. In May, the federation released another 100 birds during one of its educational activities in Miżieb.

The federation hoped this group of birds would migrate north towards Europe.

Federation officials were among the judges at the Maltese hunting dog and kelb tal-fenek competition held as part of the activities marking the traditional feast of Mnarja (the feast of St Peter and St Paul). The federation has been participating for more than 20 years.

The celebrations, dating back to the 16th century, used to serve as a pleasant break in peasants’ life. The term Mnarja is a corruption of the Italian luminaria – illumination.

The folk festival held every year includes a number of agrarian and farm animals competitions at Buskett, in the limits of Rabat.

The crowded gardens smelled of casseroled snails simmered in tomato sauce, red-blood hand-picked ripe grapes and freshly baked bread. The clucking and neighing of animals exhibited in pens or cages accompanied the traditional dancing and folk music.