The Times reported (April 12) that CABS, the German birding NGO, and BirdLife Malta are organising monitoring teams of "bird guards" in Malta this month.

We look forward to the publication of their report in which the Malta "police reaction times to reports of illegal hunting activity will be documented in detail and included in a final report to the European Commission".

For the sake of precision, may we suggest that they record the timings also by the second. The difference between two hours 37 minutes and two hours 37 minutes 49 seconds may have an important bearing on the efficiency of the Maltese police force. The authorities should also consider buying and operating a couple of bird ambulances which should always carry at least one registered bird veterinarian and auxiliary staff to provide emergency first aid for any wounded birds involved. The question of post-mortem examinations and forensic tests needs to be looked at too. Additionally, it might not be a bad idea for investigating officers to be accompanied by a manned pick-up capable of transporting confiscated caged birds to some bird refuge for rehabilitation and eventual release. As an important addendum, every enforcement police vehicle should carry enough tape to cover if necessary several thousand square metres of crime scene.

The above is a matter of grave concern, and should be treated seriously by everybody in Malta, including the government and the police authorities. It is not right that only BirdLife Malta and its partners are making a storm in a teacup concerning enforcement. As citizens of a leading nation of the enlightened modern era, we should all be unhappy with the present situation. If we really mean business, we should all demand from our government the right to be able to pay more taxes for such a worthy cause.

More money is needed for research into the question of whether the Maltese countryside is under adequate protection. BirdLife says that "currently, there is little control in the countryside". This was contradicted more or less by the CABS April-May 2009 final report on hunting. It is hoped that the two partners will perhaps iron out the inconsistency by their "joint operation for the first time". Still, taxpayers are urged to delve deeper into their pockets to make certain that the government will be in a position as soon as possible to put into operation a highly sophisticated system of constant surveillance over our countryside that will put American vigilance in Afghanistan to shame. With some effort, we might just make it.