The article ‘A long flight in vain’ (July 12) refers to a honey buzzard tracked by the Finnish Museum of Natural History that spent a night in Malta and flew on to its wintering grounds. This being one of many such instances certainly disproves the damaging allegations that all that flies over Malta is invariably shot and strengthens our arguments that the situation regarding illegalities is not what Birdlife Malta and its unscrupulous partners depict.

There is certainly room for improvement. However, were it not for such scientific studies or similar articles admitting to reality being published, the public would be left with no option other than to believe all Birdlife Malta concoct about Maltese hunters.

The satellite tracking of honey buzzards being carried out (www.luomus.fi/en/satellite-honey-buzzards) is proving that soaring birds do not necessarily travel across the shortest sea crossings as was commonly perceived. This study, and that of other bird species, help solve many mysteries even the most learned ornithologists are eager to solve and also serve to dispel several allegations about Malta being a main bird migratory route or a black spot for bird crime as many are intentionally led to believe.

St Hubert Hunters support such initiatives and hope that the penalties contemplated by law to castigate the persecution of protected bird species serve to offer these birds the necessary protection and deter the few remaining abusers. We contend that in this day and age there is certainly no place for abuse whether from irresponsible hunters or radical bird protectionists.