A day after nine white storks were seen at a field near Mdina, the police yesterday confirmed that they had received a report that a similar bird had been killed in Gozo.

Though no further information was divulged by the police, a Birdlife spokesman said the alleged illegal hunting incident took place at a field between Għarb and San Lawrenz.

“We received a call from an anonymous person at about 1.30pm and immediately alerted Gozo police about the case, who went to the field immediately,” he said.

According to this caller, two people were seen approaching the stork and firing at it from close range, before fleeing with the dead bird.

The spokesman pointed out that it was unlikely this bird was among those observed on Friday as they had proceeded with their migratory flight some hours before this alleged incident.