Field inspections carried out during the bird hunting “curfew” period between September 15 and Monday resulted in the disclosure of 40 offences, the Government said.
It said in a statement the offences included a case of shooting on a protected bird, another involving suspected targeting of protected birds at sea (presently under investigation) and five cases of trapping of protected birds.
The most common type of offence was the illegal use of pre-recorded bird calls (15 cases), followed by possession of a shotgun holding more than three cartridges (seven cases), followed by hunting within prohibited distances from roads and inhabited areas (five cases) and illegal trapping (five cases).
No one was caught hunting in bird sanctuaries or during unpermitted hours.
Some 24 people are being prosecuted with respect to the above-mentioned offences.
The Government said that while between September 15 and 30 last year, 49 injured birds suffering from gunshot wounds were recovered, 18 birds suffering from gunshot wounds were recovered during the same period this year. Eleven succumbed to their injuries or were euthanised by veterinarians due to the nature of their wounds.
Seven are being rehabilitated.
This, the Government said, indicated that whilst the number of illegally targeted birds had markedly gone down, the issue of illegal persecution of protected birds was still one of concern and needed to be tackled with further measures.
In a clarification later, the government said the number of offences quoted were those that have been were disclosed during the period when the 7pm "curfew" was applicable, namely between September 15 and last Monday. This did not imply that these offences were disclosed during the time when the curfew was in force, i.e. after 7 pm. In fact, no incidents involving targeting of protected birds of prey were disclosed after 3pm.
The Government said it had embarked, in collaboration with key stakeholders, on developing a national strategy for the eradication of illegal killing, trapping and trade in wild birds.
A zero tolerance policy towards such offences was the only way forward, it said.
The Government has also put forward a proposal, for consideration by the Malta Ornis Committee in the coming weeks, for a new procedure for the handling and rehabilitation of recovered injured birds.
The Government said that more than 95 enforcement personnel were deployed to oversee the hunting season since September 1, which is double the strength deployed in the same period last year.
The officers carried out 4,170 field inspections, contributing around 10,000 man hours on the beat, 40 per cent more than the number of hours contributed during the same period in 2012.
This ratio of enforcement deployment, amounting to roughly one officer per two square kilometres of Maltese countryside was unprecedented anywhere in Europe and possibly in the world, the Government said.
The countryside was also monitored by several dozen local and foreign volunteers from various NGOs, who cooperated with the authorities.