I fully appreciate Sandro Vella’s love of the countryside (March 14) and that it should be available for use by one and all. And that the public should respect private property.

The problem is not the countryside. The problem arises from the countryside and literally ends in the sky with the killing of birds.

Vella says the anti-hunting lobby has no convincing arguments to ban a “perfectly legal” spring hunting season. In fact, it has a perfectly valid legal argument. Birds are co-owned by every human being.

I had raised this legal argument in correspondence exchanged with my friend, the shooter gentleman, the late Alfred Zammit.

“Bird shooters may state that birds are the common property of all; but this surely means that shooters are not entitled to deprive other persons from the enjoyment of these birds.

“As a co-owner, I am allowed to use common property without, however, preventing others of such use. How is it that a Maltese birdwatcher, who enjoys the beauty of a free bird in flight, is deprived of that pleasure by another Maltese bird killer?

“The bird killer is not legally entitled, for his own private pleasures or gain, to destroy another person’s enjoyment...” (The Sunday Times of Malta, October 2, 1983)

To date, there has not been any legal argument to the contrary – let alone a convincing one.

All Maltese are entitled to enjoy viewing birds in flight and hearing their song. Is there a sight or sound more beautiful? No person is entitled to deprive others of such a pleasure. As rightly pointed out by Vella, individuals should not abuse of his private property; similarly birds under co-ownership.

The concept of hunting has evolved. No longer does one see photographs of hunters posing with big game. Mankind is more aware of the environment, the benefit of keeping a balance and enjoying it to the full – now and for future generations.