The FKNK hunters' federation has questioned whether a rare eagle reportedly sighted by BirdLife volunteers was really in Malta.

BirdLife said yesterday that an Eastern Imperial Eagle was seen in Malta, possibly for the first time. http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20151104/local/rare-satellite-tagged-eagle-appears-in-malta.590904

But the FKNK said in a statement today that at a time when the hunting and trapping seasons are at their peak and the majority of the 10,000 hunter and trapper members are out hunting and trapping, it was strange that none of them had reported sighting the bird. 

"It is even astonishing, that, contrary to what usually occurs when some unusual bird/s for Malta, happens to visit the Maltese islands whilst on migration, when the bird/s is followed and monitored by scores of BLM and police personnel, this has not been the case for this rare eagle. In fact, now, BLM is urging members of the public to keep a look out for the eagle, since apparently, BLM have completely lost track of the huge bird," the FKNK said.

The federation urged its members to report any sighting, either to it or to the police.