BirdLife sees no drop in Autumn illegal hunting
This Marsh Harrier was seen on the 1st October at Laferla Cross, BirdLife said. One of its legs is dangling down which indicates a gunshot injury. Photo by Ed Shepherd.
BirdLife Malta said today that an analysis of Raptor Camp data showed that there has been no real change in the number of illegalities recorded during this year's peak raptor migration period over last year.
It said 405 illegalities were recorded this autumn, including 83 incidents of shooting at protected birds. Illegalities were recorded in 40 of the 55 locations monitored. A further 90 protected birds with gunshot injuries were seen in flight, and 12 shot protected birds were recovered by BirdLife Malta alone.
A total of 55 migratory species were recorded through Raptor Camp, of which 33 protected species were witnessed being illegally targeted. The species targeted include common birds which migrate in large numbers, such as Barn Swallows and Bee-eaters. Even a Blue Rock Thrush, Malta's national bird, was seen in flight with gunshot damage to feathers.
The number of illegal incidents relative to the raptor migration remained constant when compared to last year, except for the number of protected birds seen with gunshot injuries in flight which increased by a drastic 280%, BirdLife said.
"We have witnessed illegal shooters targeting common protected birds, rare protected birds, illegally shooting in restricted areas and close to residences, illegally shooting at all times, using illegal weapons, and the list goes on." said Nicholas Barbara, BirdLife Malta Conservation and Policy Officer. "All this in just the small part of the countryside we are monitoring. The large number of birds seen this season with gunshot injuries in flight indicates that outside these areas the situation is likely to be much worse."
Over the course of Raptor Camp a mix of Black Storks, White Storks, Lesser Spotted Eagles, and Short-toed Eagles stopped over in Malta, numbering 19 birds in total. Raptor Camp teams witnessed four of these rare protected migrants, highly prized by illegal hunters for private collections, illegally targeted; a Black Stork was recovered dead by the ALE from Zurrieq, a Short-toed Eagle was shot down in Mtarfa, another Short-toed Eagle was shot down in the Il-Qaws area, and a Lesser Spotted Eagle in a visible roost at Wied l-Isqof disappeared after a barrage of shots were fired on it at twilight.
In all these cases nobody was apprehended and police investigations are understood to be ongoing, the NGO said.
Of the other birds, two Lesser Spotted Eagles and a White Stork are believed to have safely left the islands, while the fate of the others is unknown. Three White Storks from Hungary which were earlier reported to have safely left the islands are believed to have returned flying low and one was shot and injured. The fate of these storks is unknown.
"Whenever possible, rare protected birds are followed from their arrival until they leave the islands by BirdLife Malta and often the police. Volunteers even spend the night in their vicinity to prevent illegal shooting." said Barbara. "However, the moment these birds distance themselves from following teams they come under illegal fire. Many of the rarer birds which stop over in Malta fail to make it out alive."
The Raptor Camp was this year held between the September 14 and October 2. Evidence collected by teams of illegalities, including footage, have been passed onto the ALE to help with police investigations. A report detailing Raptor Camp conclusions will shortly be sent to local authorities and the European Commission.
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Paul Borg
Oct 14th 2011, 18:20
Mr Cardona and Mr Vella sound like the two gentlemen in the Muppet show in one of the front boxes of the theatre. So both of you honestly think that YOUR WAY OF HUNTING AND POACHING helps the image and the tourism industry. I have never heard two pathetic people defending a carnage by criticising another!!! Just for the record , from Swieqi to Victoria gardens all the way the San Gwann valley there is shooting every day out in the open , season or no season. And the photos I shot of these persons preach legality in hunting. But I will wait for the right moment to issue a centrefold about the subject.
Mr Joseph Scicluna
Oct 14th 2011, 07:50
In countries abroad hunters and conservation ngo's work hand in hand for the better of both. In Malta, BLM have since their start, cornered the hunting fraternity by all means hence making the latter group more aggressive...and they continue to do so even though no results are yielded as this article says.
So what is the agenda of BLM? Provocation or what? Cant get an idea of how this sort of behaviour will be of benefit for both, and the birds themselves. Why does not BLM sit down with the FKNK and tackle mattersn in a civilized way other than distant accusations continously coming out. The way things are being led give the impression that this is an extremist tactic which instills hatred leaving deep scars which will be seen for a long time from now. Come on, sit down and talk and get a balance between the 2 groups for the benefit of all.
K Perry
Oct 14th 2011, 11:22
BLM (of which i have no affiliation) is part of Birdlife International an international ngo organisation that works around the world ( 'countries abroad') hand in hand with other groups, many of them world famous..I couldnt find many ngo's working hand in hand with hunters on google but then isnt this About illegal hunting of protected species? why then would BLM be a problem to legal hunters?
Poor little Malta isnt being singled out, look at Birdlife international on Facebook, they are involved with birds and habitat all over the world.
Let just remind people this is about ILLEGAL hunting of protected species - nothing else.
try this from yesterdays Cyprus Mail : http://www.cyprus-mail.com/ambelopoulia/large-scale-poaching-raid-nets-six/20111013
B Cassar
Oct 14th 2011, 07:17
I am no expert on hunting nor I know the seasons beginnings and ends. However, last Wednesday in the areas of Zejtun and St. Thomas Bay from the early morning to sunshine one could hear continuous bullets being fired at loud instances. These noises leading to hunting would be acceptable if we lived near fields but the area is highly populated and there are buildings everywhere. One has not to be an expert to understand that the firing was being done in habitated areas hence an illegal thing. Such noises were very loud and very near to houses to the Ganza area. Someone should really take action to patrol the streets and take care of us, since it's not the first time that we get furious and vulgar reactions when we complain with any hunter even if he knows that it is illegal to use firearms in villages and towns. My appeal goes to the authorities. Illegal hunting is being carried out all months of the year. Take a tour around some villages in the early hours f the morning and you will hear them all around you.
C Borg
Oct 13th 2011, 22:01
While every single illegality is one too many, however these are no big numbers to justify splashing Malta as the black spot of Europe.
405 illegalities div 12000 licensed hunters is 0.03375% assuming that every illegality was done by a different hunter. I wander what's the percentage of traffic fines vs licensed drivers.
405 illegalities div. 18 days of raptor camp div 55 localities monitored makes an average of 0.41 that is
2 illegalities every 5 days in each locality and still assuming that every illegality was done by a different hunter.
With these figures I can't see how some people talk of massacres of protected birds, wherever you look you see protected birds blasted out of the sky etc etc
One must also note that the monitoring was done (and rightly so) in the most 55 reknowned hunting places in Malta.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Oct 13th 2011, 19:00
Whatever happened to the millions BLM?! What proof do you have of those birds you mention as having seen flying with gunshot wounds?! Proof, proof! Was this done to inflate the 405. Furthermore, the illegalities do not only include the killing of protected birds which YOU are supposed to be defending!
Tony Gatt, wake up, it is open season!!!
Paul Borg, you should inform your host students that poaching also occurs in their countries. Maybe, it would be wiser for you to tell them to behave themselves while in Malta, i.e. if they "want to maintain some sort of respect"!
Mr Tony Gatt
Oct 13th 2011, 17:57
I was having a swim in St. Thomas' Bay this morning and three shots blasted out not far from where I was but I did not see what the hunter was shooting at.
Stephen Frendo
Oct 13th 2011, 18:48
What a stupid comment Mr. Gatt !!, please note that the hunting season is now open!!
Marco Meli
Oct 13th 2011, 19:52
Sooooo???? what's your point then??? Normal shotguns can shoot a maximum of three cartidges according to maltese law. And hunting season is open! Bahhhhhhhhhh
Steve Zammit
Oct 13th 2011, 19:59
Probably at Song Thrushes....
Mr Joseph Scicluna
Oct 14th 2011, 07:31
??
Carmel Cilia
Oct 13th 2011, 17:16
I only heard constant and persisting shooting for about an hour yesterday morning. In fact it was the first day this season wherein migration of the trush could be seen. So how on earth can they say thousands of birds were shot illigally.
Birdlife is no longer being believed they are grossly increasing the numbers of illegal birds shot. Turtle dove migration was the poorest in the last years.
Cry wolf once twice three times and that's it nobody believes you any longer.
Steve Zammit
Oct 13th 2011, 19:58
Song Thrushes and turtle doves have nothing to do with the illegal hunting reported by BLM
If you don't believe that hunting isn't widespread and not a problem then you must live on the moon
Victor Falzon
Oct 13th 2011, 20:05
Mr Cilia, you seem to be one of those who think that everyone is an idiot and that we all walk about with blinkered vision and soundproof earmuffs.
Oh well, you are entitled to your fantasies, I suppose.
Neil Collins
Oct 13th 2011, 21:11
Only two types of people believe Birdlife are lying
1) those with with no minds of their own
2) hunters wives and family
Wow you have a nice knowledge there about the migration patterns of turtle doves. You are fooling nobody. Oh and they dont say 1000's of birds were shot illegally. I have told you a billion times not to exaggerate.
Charles Gauci
Oct 14th 2011, 06:58
You are absolutely right Mr. Cilia. BirdLife is not being believed. Indeed I do not think it was ever believed - or rather - pretended not to be believed. However, this only applies to the bird killing comminity. The rest do not only believe but many of them are direct witnesses.
Corinne Caruana
Oct 13th 2011, 15:46
Anyone interested in what impression we are leaving about our beautiful country, listen to this
http://www.talking-naturally.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/TN63%20Ceri%20Levy%20talks%20about%20illegal%20hunting%20on%20Malta.mp3
Its just sad and embarassing
Mr l Azzopardi
Oct 13th 2011, 17:06
thanks for this link ...eye opening
C Borg
Oct 13th 2011, 21:38
spoon fed anti hunting and anti malta propaganda.... thanks b...
half of his speech can be read word by word on blm statements
and for his film he comes to Malta? he could have easily gone in his backyard!
he goes to the most reknowned hunting places in Malta and expects not a pellet fall on him
Actually heard up to the 12min and couldn't bear to hear more rubbish.
In no way I'm saying we don't have a problem with poaching but it's not bigger than that of any other EU country. The fact is that Malta is small and almost all illegalities are witnessed while in other countries go unrecorded.
This type of propaganda leads to nowhere except to harm our tourist industry. Should hunting be abolished throughout the year which would be the ultimate acheivment for BLM; still that doesn't mean that poaching would be exterminated. Poaching can only be reduced through education and enforcement over a period of years and anyone out there in the countryside can honestly say that poaching is already in decline.
Corinne Caruana
Oct 14th 2011, 07:47
@C Borg
I was going to write a long post proving my point but I erased it all because, come on, lets face it, with people like you (i.e. hunters), why bother?
You have no value for life no matter how many people tell you otherwise.
Lawrence Attard
Oct 15th 2011, 15:55
@C Borg
"In no way I'm saying we don't have a problem with poaching but it's not bigger than that of any other EU country. The fact is that Malta is small and almost all illegalities are witnessed while in other countries go unrecorded".
If as you claim, poaching in Malta is no worse than it is in other countries, then please explain to me why it is that whenever and wherever I travel, I see wild protected birds not only flying freely but lounging uninterrupted in public areas and even interacting with society. Examples...wild swans in ditches around Heathrow airport right besides passing cars...birds of prey trees roosting in British towns ...white egrets landing in a small artificial lake in a supermarket complex in Texas, much to everyone's delight; ...black kites (I think) nesting in a public park in Germany, with one generation after the other (keeping in mind they are not even legally protected in Germany)...storks nesting on rooftops in Europe, and so on. This is not fantasy but things I've seen with my own eyes, hopefully you have enjoyed such sights too.
Let's be honest...if the poaching situation in these countries was anywhere even remotely resembling that in Malta, there would be NO TRACE of these birds. A lone stork landing on a construction crane in the heart of town in Gozo brought hunters running up shotguns in hand, only stopped from shooting by the crane owner! So come on please Mr Borg, dont insult our intelligence (and those other countries) by comparing their situation with ours.
IF ONLY we had such disciplined hunters here in Malta...
S Vella
Oct 13th 2011, 15:12
I start by condemning all illagalities, and those are not hunters but poachers!! they only obscure us and I thank the ALE for their remarkable efforts to catch these irresponsable few.
I am mainly writing here because the heading of this article states "Birdlife sees no drop in illegal hunting" and " It said 405 illegalities were recorded this autumn, including 83 incidents of shooting at protected birds. Illegalities were recorded in 40 of the 55 locations monitored. A further 90 protected birds with gunshot injuries were seen in flight, and 12 shot protected birds were recovered by BirdLife Malta alone.
A total of 55 migratory species were recorded through Raptor Camp, of which 33 protected species were witnessed being illegally targeted."
Birdlife always said that thosands of birds were illegally killed, they always mentioned massacres....and blew up the whole story to make it sensational but today they see no drop, BUT THEY DID NOT RECORD MASSACES AND THOUSANDS OF ILLEGAL KILLINGS, so something is wrong! because if there was no drop they should have recorded much more illegalities, especially that they had CABS helping them.
IF NOT THIS IS ANOTHER PROVEN LIE!!
If only 405 illegalites were recoded and in the past they always claimed thousands, SO THERE WAS A GREAT DROP!!
Mr Daniel Jones
Oct 13th 2011, 18:51
Can you point out a report where Birdlife said thousands of illegal killings?
They have reported massacres, because these have happened. Remember the swans, the spoonbills etc. I may be wrong, but I have don't remember reading birdlife reporting thousands of illegal killings.
Glenn Micallef
Oct 13th 2011, 21:34
So, Mr S Vella, according to your very intellectual assumption, since the 20 someting people taking part in raptor camp recorded 405 illegalities, there were only 405 hunting illegalities that occured during September. So, according to you, since no drug dealers were apprehended today, no money changed hands for drugs today! And you expect the rest of the Maltese no-hunting population to believe you..... What would be your explanation to illegailities observed at 40/55 locations! I wonder how no hunter ever records any illegality!
S Vella
Oct 14th 2011, 07:25
@ Mr Glenn Micallef
So according to your intellectual assumptions now we start assuming!
weather you like it or not, what was blown up to massacres and birds blasted out of the sky in thousands now only resulted to 405 illegalities, and one must keep in mind that we have over 12000 registered hunters!! I am not assuming Mr Glenn Micallef, I am commenting on facts reported in this article and these figures were reported by Birdlies and CABS during their raptor camp. As I already stated I condemn even one illegality but it is clear that all the crap fed to the general public and foreigners by birdlife, of massacres, and false blunt statements was all intentional to try and abolish hunting from Malta, but finally the truth prevails.
With regards to your brilliant comparrison about drug dealing, all I can tell you is that the only drug dealers taken to court are the ones cought, and the police have enough evidence of their crime, not the ones that intellectuals like yourself assume they are guilty! and that goes for any crime not just drug dealing...be carefull because not all criminals are behind bars but assumptions prove nothing and can ridicule you.
Glenn Micallef
Oct 14th 2011, 19:43
Mr Vella, sorry but I am not making any assumptions. You are make an assuming that, since Birdlife recorded 405 illegalities, these are small as compared to 12000 hunters, or as compared, or to the numbers claimed by Birdlife. First and foremost, you are wrong as CABS and Birdlife hold separate bird protection camps, and the figures above do NOT include observations made by CABS. Moreover, in no time did a handful of Birdlife teams manage to monitor the 12000 hunters roaming our countryside. So, yes the situation has improved as compared to 10 years ago, but it is still very far from accetable. For example, there are no raptor camp teams on Gozo (raptor camp not CABS) and most of the inland locations on Malta. The few teams, cannot monitor more than 100-150 hunters at any particular time. Illegalities being recorded in 40/55 locations is very, very concerning. It does not appear that only a handful of 'rotten apples' spoil your image.
Finally, my comparison, should want to understand, was very pratical. You know, as all know, that since yesterday no drug dealer was apprehending changing money for drugs, you know as the rest of us know, that the drug addicts still got their fix yesterday. Similarly, if 405 illegalities were recorded during raptor camp, it does not mean that only 405 illegalities occured during the camp. Innocent until proven guilty does not make any sense in this context, as there is no 'innocent' or 'gulity' party.
John Borg
Oct 13th 2011, 15:11
This is not what cabs reported. and how come Birdlife interprets all birds with ruffled feathers as necessarily having been shot?
Paul Borg
Oct 13th 2011, 15:10
I host foreign students who come to learn English. Most of them, especially the ones that come from Germany, Switzerland and Scandinavia say that when they researched Malta on the net, they all found that Malta has illegal hunting out of controll. They also say that a lot of birds of prey are killed just for the fun of it. Another prominent story that comes up is about STAR , the dog that was shot and buried alive by a Hunter.
If Hunters want to maintain some sort of respect, they should turn on each other and report illegalities. From the police point of view there are so many things one can do EX: retreive all Guns and issue them in Hunting season, Confiscate Guns and impose heavy fines in case of illegalities, Keep reducing hunting season time if the problem persists.
M. Cardona
Oct 13th 2011, 16:38
Likewise if the problems with foreign students persist, there are so many things one can do EX; ban entry to students with criminal records, deport all trouble makers at the first infringement. A further sanction might be that if all pertinent taxes by all hosting families are not submitted then one can also restrict any further private hosting and the students may be accomodated in apposite hotels.
S Vella
Oct 13th 2011, 16:41
Hekk naghmlu Sur Borg! ezatt kif qed tghid int....
Did your host students hear about the abortions taking place in their homelands? they have amongst the highest rates of abortions in EU countries? that is the killing of innicent human beings who are defencless and are massacred in their mother's womb! But that is legal in the countries your host students come from so there is nothing wrong.....There are other things your studentsshould hear about before coming to Malta, for example the reform in transport which they depend so much upon. Did you ever tell them that the former prime minister gave us in writing a gurantee that our traditional hunting and trapping hobbies will continue after joing EU and we had one of their fellow friends backing our prime minister, I am refering for Mr Verhoigen who was so much involved in our full membership and derogations negotiated. I wouldnt be surprised that foreigners are ged all that crap against hunting and trapping as if we are in some barbaric country, then when members of CABS came over to see our migrations they too were disappointed because they expected to see much more but due to change of migration only 0.004% of the migratory birds fly over Malta, now I leave that to the readers to decide how numerous our massacres are to obscure Malta by some individuals who do not care what they write even if it is going to harm our country.
S Vella
Oct 13th 2011, 16:43
http://www.johnstonsarchive.net/policy/abortion/mapeuropeabrate.html
abortion statistics!!
Mr Tony Gatt
Oct 13th 2011, 18:04
@ S.Vella,
I don't seee what abortions have to do with shoooting birds, but in Ireland, the land of saints and scholars as it calls itself, the girls simply go to England to have abortions. I suppose no Maltese girls go abroad for the same purpose!
C Cassar
Oct 13th 2011, 18:45
@S Vella. Abortion is legal in many countries including Germany. Shooting birds out of season and shhoting protected species is illegal in Malta. Do you know the difference between legal & illegal?
Abortion will also become legal in Malta in the same way as the recent passing of the divorce law.
Nick Scerri
Oct 13th 2011, 20:12
Mr Vella & Cardona I have seen your names in various articles regarding hunting and I can appreciate the need to defend your pass-time,
HOWEVER you need to stop criticising people who are actually trying to provide you and the hunting federation in general with good advice and for the love of all things stop using abortion to justify your cause
Not only is the topic of abortion completely IRRELEVANT when discussing the problem with poaching but also helps further the cause of people who would dismiss hunting outright by claiming that hunters are all ignorant, psychologically scarred individuals!!!
Mr Borg only pointed out an obvious fact - that in foreign countries Malta is viewed as a country where hunter's brutally murder and torture all animals and pose a general threat to people as well (which is NOT TRUE!!!)
I will conclude by saying that there are people who would see this problem resolved in positive manner with all parties benefiting in some way BUT you and other like minded people cannot dismiss the opinions and ideas of the non hunting community (which still consists of the vast majority of the Maltese Population) for no reason
BIAS IS THE ENEMY!!!
Some ideas (such as those stated by Mr Borg) may actually help change people's perception of hunting and benefit your cause in the long run!!!
S Vella
Oct 13th 2011, 21:02
@Tony Gatt
Maybe for you it has nothing to do, but I distinguish between the killing of innocent unborn children and birds.
I was writing on Paul Borg's comment who said "I host foreign students who come to learn English. Most of them, especially the ones that come from Germany, Switzerland and Scandinavia say that when they researched Malta on the net, they all found that Malta has illegal hunting out of controll. They also say that a lot of birds of prey are killed just for the fun of it", now the students Mr Borg hosts come from the leading countries that kill innocent unborn children, LEGALLY and I do give priority to human life over that of animals. I am not saying that am in any way in favour of cruelty on animals or the killing of animals for fun, you have to get it through your head that the spieces WE HUNT are game birds which we eat, after all like the chicken, rabbits, pigs, cows etc that you buy from the butcher. Hunters are not poachers!!
S Vella
Oct 14th 2011, 12:07
@ C Cassar
So according to you everything that is legal is good? just because it is legal, and you justify abortion just because in those countries it is legalised?? Unbelievable!
Addio morali....the killing of a defenceless child is justified just because it is legal.??..so according to you nothing is wrong with that? simply because the law permitts it? and killing a bird in a country were it is protected is a big crime!!!
I condemn all illaglaities BUT I ALSO CONDEMN WHATEVER IS WRONG EVEN IF IT IS LEGAL! Common sense please.
Abortion and Divorce are two different issues and dont try to confuse arguments. Divorce concerns grown ups and gives them a second chance in life, abortion is the killing of innocent unborn defencless kids who never get a chance! and even if it is introduced like Divorce, it is up to the individual to choose if they want to use it or not. Qieghed thallat il-Hass mal-Insalta habib!!