A Sardininan warbler. Photo: Aron Tanti

The spring hunting referendum has come and gone. Not so for the migrating turtle doves and quails on their way to their breeding grounds to ensure the survival of the species. No cooing, no going for them.

During the first three days of the spring open season for the killing of mature birds going to breed, I was tending my various wild plants that I propagate, appreciating and learning more about the miracles of nature, and to help with Malta’s biodiversity. Some were sprouting while others were strongly developing and striving to achieve their aims, in buds patiently waiting to flower and subsequently seed. Spring is in the air.

Close by on an open perch, a male Sardinian Warbler in full breeding plumage, and in courtship display, sang its heart out. A male Spanish Sparrow was singing nearby too, proud that its mate was safely sitting on the nest brooding the eggs: a proud father-to-be.

Then, all of a sudden, the sound of gunfire rang from across the nearby valley and adjacent fields shattering the scene: “Die, die, die. This is the way I derive my pleasure… die, die, die.”

The Sardinian Warbler and the Spanish Sparrow stopped dead. I could almost feel them eyeing me out of the corner of their eyes. An exclamatory fearful look, as if asking: “Is this the best that you humans can do to give a helping hand to the ecosystem? Is this the way to quench your pleasure by taking lives? Do you realise the difficulties birds face on their way to breed? Surely not the result of the reputed intelligence?”

I felt ashamed and ridiculed by two living species which many look upon as being inferior. But after a while both the male Sardinian Warbler and the Spanish sparrow once again burst out in song. A song of thanksgiving to the Creator for helping them to live another day.

Not like the turtle doves and the quails which fell victim to an uncontrolled urge. The harsh cries “die, die, die” rang out again a number of times. The Spanish Sparrow and the Sardinian Warbler did not take any chances and disappeared in the bushes. True they were not turtle doves and quails but it did happen to cuckoos, a lapwing, kestrels and a Dutch teenager.

The harsh cries ‘die, die, die’ rang out again a number of times

I could not but plunge into a pensive mood. Half of the electorate had understood the miracles of nature. They wanted to do their utmost to support nature and all its wonders. Not just for themselves but also for our children who lent the ecosystem to us. They wanted to protect, guard, enjoy and share nature with others, not through plundering it for personal reasons.

The other half were dead keen to continue taking lives for their personal pleasure. However, the most worrying part of it all was that this half of the electorate were supported by the leaders of the two main political parties!

A turtle dove. Photo: Aron Tanti

What for? Definitely not for the sake of birds, nor for the sake of bird-shooters themselves, neither for the sake of the environment or for the sake of the people. As soon as the battle cry was over (it was just a battle, and certainly not war), the Prime Minster immediately called upon the leaders of those who wanted to continue taking lives for pleasure during the breeding season.

A Spanish sparrow. Photo: Michael Sammut

In no uncertain terms, these ‘yes’ crowd, were told that the electorate had given them the ‘last chance’ to behave, and if not it would be the end of their spring birds-shooting spree!

The naive voters admired such a noble stand. The non-gullible felt that this Pontius Pilate move was more like the rubbing of backs and the sharing of spoils: one bagging the dead turtles doves and quails in spring; the other the votes in the referendum and the local council election.

The number of shot turtle doves and quails will be given in the compulsory report to be forwarded to the EU according to the derogation taken by government. The wooing had been consummated, like the lives of turtle doves and quails! That is what I call politics. The people and the environment will as usual be footing the cost of their losses.

Claude Pepper (1900-1989), a former US senator and member of the US House of Representatives, said: “If more politicians in this country were thinking about the next generation instead of the next election, it might be better for the United States and the world.” The latest spring hunting referendum confirms this without a shadow of a doubt.

The cackling started as I was finalising this article. Following the shooting of a kestrel which fell in the middle of a school yard during the students’ break, the Prime Minister, as he previously warned, closed the spring shooting season three days before its official closure. Whether this is through conviction or through convenience, one has to await the advent of next spring to see whether this was really the ‘last chance’.

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