As a bird-loving Englishman resident in Malta for five months, I feel I should have my say on the spring shoot.
No doubt, the hunters consider the killing of birds which are in passage as both their tradition and right and of little concern to a non-Maltese.
I would argue that it is also the tradition and right of the birds to travel across these islands to their breeding grounds unmolested and the tradition and right of northern Europeans to enjoy their presence during the summer months.
I shall be leaving Malta soon and travelling north myself and I have nothing but praise for the Maltese people and their home, where I have been made most welcome.
However, the unnecessary killing of migrating wildlife must stop if we are to move with the times and consider ourselves at all civilised.