Two Black Storks were shot down yesterday morning, a spokesman for CABS, the German-based birdwatchers' group said.

The birds were in a flock of 12 which flew in over Gozo and then Malta late Tuesday afternoon. They roosted overnight in the Buskett area before flying off yesterday morning.

One was shot down over Miżieb and one near Rabat.

Asked whether the birdwatchers were sure that these were Black Storks, given that they are rare over Malta, the CABS spokesman said they were "absolutely sure" adding this had been one of the biggest flocks of Black Storks to fly over Malta.

CABS on Tuesday issued excerpts of a video handed to the police showing a Black Stork being shot down. The group, which claimed there had been a massacre of protected birds between Friday and Saturday, has written to the Prime Minister demanding the immediate closure of the hunting season.

The Office of the Prime Minister has asked the police to investigate the reports of hunting illegalities.

The hunters' federation on Sunday condemned the hunting of protected birds.

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