This year’s spring hunting casualties have risen to 10, Birdlife said today.

In a statement, it said that in the past two days it had retrieved another two shot birds of prey - a marsh harrier from Mġarr and a male lesser kestrel from Gozo.

While the marsh harrier had shotgun injuries to the eye and head, the lesser kestrel was suffering from injuries to the right wing and the left leg.

As it reiterated its call to the Prime Minister to close the season, Birdlife said that the shot birds were frequent migrants over the Maltese islands in spring and heavily protected species in the European Union.

Photo: Birdlife

It said that having received 10 in just over a week of spring hunting was a mere indication of how many of these birds are being targeted illegally.

Birdlife noted that after the referendum in 2015, the government had taken the bold decision to close the season prematurely when a protected common kestrel crashed bleeding into the yard of St Edward's College in Cottonera.

Immediately after the referendum, the Prime Minister had warned that he would not tolerate abuse and closed the season after four birds were illegally shot.

But Birdlife’s calls on the government to close the season were this year met with absolute silence.

“What has changed since 2015,” it asked.