A poacher shot down a protected black stork in San Blas Valley shortly after midday today, the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) said in a statement.

It said the bird was recovered alive after a search by bird guards but died in the arms of its rescuers moments before it was handed over to the attending Gozo police patrol.

The bird was identified as a juvenile bird that had fledged only a few months earlier before building up the strength to leave on its first migration to its winter quarters in Africa.

The search was triggered off by the report of an eyewitness who saw the shooting and reported it to the BirdLife office in Malta.

BirdLife alerted the CABS team in Gozo, who then organised the search with the police.

CABS said that the shooting of the stork was the tragic climax of a series of illegal killings of protected bird species today.

It said that, earlier, on the Gebel Ciantar plateau, hunters were seen shooting down two honey buzzards en route from their night roost in Buskett Gardens to the coast.

ALE officers unsuccessfully searched the area for the birds and their killers. Another two birds were shot at but flew unscathed.

Near Safi, a CABS team filmed three attempts to shoot down a marsh harrier. The injured bird flew on, visibly weakened.

Another CABS team below Mgarr discovered a bird trapper who, despite the ban on trapping, had activated his clap nets. ALE officers interviewed the man and initiated proceedings against him.

CABS are in Malta until the end of the month. Team members can be contacted on 9955 4442 (Malta) or 9964 6321 (Gozo).