The real reason for the referendum on spring hunting is that the birds are killed on their way to breed. On the other hand, turtle doves and quails pass over Malta and Gozo in moderately significant numbers only in spring.

In other countries, such as the UK, game birds are bred and released for hunting. In Malta, the government, jointly with the hunting associations, can use part of substantial licence fees paid by hunters, to breed turtle doves and quails. Eventually, enough birds will be released each year to replace the numbers which hunters are permitted to take.

There are other resident birds, such as the collared dove, the sandgrouse and the Arabian partridge, that could also be introduced.

With government aid, the hunting associations can also set up clay pigeon shooting ranges, where the fight of the targets imitates that of the turtle dove, the quail and other game birds. These ranges will provide relaxation and training for hunters throughout the year.

Voting Yes ­– but replacing birds, as explained above, is a win-win solution for all and also provides some new employment. Aggressive behaviour is obviously wrong.

Admittedly, this is found also on the roads, in football grounds, in bars, etc. The hunting associations have to continue to educate their members to treat with due respect the non-hunters who use the countryside.

Eventually, tolerance and co-exitence can prevail. But, as non-hunters use the countryside all the year, this is not the issue of the referendum on spring hunting.

Like all abuses, the illegal hunting of protected birds cannot be tolerated. Ongoing education and enforcement will continue to weed out those few hunters who do not follow the regulations. However, such abuses can occur throughout the year. So the referendum does not concern this matter.