Unfortunately for the umpteenth time, Anne Zammit’s article and letters in The Sunday Times about her dislike of hunting again call for correction. Purporting to speak on behalf of the rest of the population which she obviously must consider to be against hunting, in her letter of May 27 she criticises the government for applying a derogation in spring when birds are mating and breeding, and confirms her reasons for opposing the shooting of wild birds.

Applying a derogation in cases where there is no other ‘satisfactory solution’ is permissable and enshrined in the European Birds Directive, whether she likes it or not. In the case of Malta this right was unequivocally endorsed by the European Court of Justice and practised in accordance with strict, adequately enforced, local regulations.

The illegality observed by the European courts, though she clearly wants to ignore reality, related to the years 2004 to 2007. By stating that turtle doves pair for life, and saying that “coldly” shooting one in Malta during the breeding season “leaves behind a mourning mate, maybe with nestlings to care for”, she clearly shows her ignorance about birds.

Apart from the fact that the two species of birds shot during spring would not yet have nested when migrating over Malta, the turtle dove does not pair for life, while the quail is polygamous. She clearly proves that her anti-hunting propaganda is driven by an appeal to people’s emotion.