BirdLife Malta said today that just over a week into the Spring hunting season, several irregularities had been noted, with shooting outside the permitted hours being 'very common'

Executive Director Paul Debono said that other shortcomings included hunters who were not wearing their special armbands and an increased incidence of night hunting.

Mr Debono said that it was good that the hunters' federation reported abuses, but the important thing was that those who broke the law were arraigned and properly punished.

Veronica Ferdinandova, from the International Union of Conservation of Nature, spoke against having spring hunting allowed for Quail and Turtle Dove. She said that while the two species were not a matter of concern in the world, their numbers were a matter of concern in Europe, and spring hunting, therefore, should not be allowed.

Mr Debono expressed concern that hunters were not reporting the birds they shot down.

He said that over the past week, BirdLife volunteers had noted 7,500 shots. Under the new rules, hunters may not bag more than a bird a day, and not more than four in the three-week season.

The hunters, therefore were either very bad shots, or they were not reporting the birds they downed, he said.

Nicholas Barbara, BirdLife Conservation Officer, said the organisation's Spring Watch volunteers had recorded over 800 illegal hunting and trapping cases since April 10.

"These initial results include only the reports by six spring watch teams and at this stage do not include the reports we receive from local birdwatchers and other sources."

The majority of the illegal activities consisted of shooting after 3pm when hunting is not permitted. BirdLife Malta also received shot protected species including two Hoopoes, two Common Kestrels, one Marsh Harrier and one Cuckoo over the last 12 days. The organisation's volunteers have also recorded a further 14 protected birds with injuries consist with gunshot injuries, such as missing feather and dangling legs.