I refer to the handout recently given to locals and tourists boarding the Gozo ferries by the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS), inciting them to report hunting illegalities to the police.

The leaflet claims that “illegal hunting is widespread in Malta and Gozo”. It states that during the autumn season (September 1 to January 31) “the only species that may be hunted on land during this period are Turtle Dove and Quail”.

It also lists as illegal the “trapping of any birds”, “hunting from the coastline”, “three immediately consecutive shots from the same weapon” and “hunting in or 50 metres from the boundary of designated protected areas”.

Without any doubt, none of the above mentioned “illegalities” are in fact illegal. The autumn hunting season legally authorises hunting for 41 bird species. The trapping of two species is perfectly legal.

Three consecutive shots from one weapon is the EU permitted legal limit. And anyone can hunt with his back towards the boundary of protected areas and secondary roads.

Considering these and other stupidities, it comes as no surprise that the CABS reports to the European Commission regularly refer to hundreds of illegalities attributed to Maltese hunters.

Clearly this radical organisation of self-proclaimed bird guards can only be termed as opportunists that benefit from public funding by reporting non-existent illegalities.

Not only are they wasting precious police time but above all their incitement of the public to turn against hunting through blatant misinformation that ultimately tarnishes Malta’s image should be officially condemned by the authorities concerned.

CABS’s recent expulsion from the southern French district of Landes by the French authorities should perhaps serve as an eye-opener as to how such vigilantes should be treated by a government that has full trust in its forces of law.