A recent edition of the Rai Tre programme Geo&Geo included a documentary on bird migration across the Mediterranean.

Spain, Southern France, Italy and the Balkans, were naturally mentioned because on their big reserves and open areas migratory birds find a suitable habitat to rest and nest. But when Malta was mentioned, this was done in an especially negative way and at greater length than the rest.

Our islands were described as strategic for bird migration across the Mediterranean; something which even those with an elementary knowledge of our geographical position cannot accept.

The two main routes followed by birds in their spring and autumn migrations across the Mediterranean are over 1,600 km to the west of Malta, where Spain's most southerly point is only eight km from the north African coast; and over 1,600 km to the eastern Mediterranean.

Here, birds migrating north follow the Nile. Reaching its delta, they go up the Middle East and reach eastern and northern Europe.

Understandably enough, birds avoid crossing the Sahara Desert and a large expanse of sea. In the autumn, the birds nearest to our shores are those which from central Europe tend to reach Sicily to follow a southwesterly short route to the Tunisian coast, most often missing us, given the size of our islands.

Malta's position in the central Mediterranean is outside birds' migratory routes. Those passing over Malta must have winds that blow off their routes, combining with a favourable wind that brings them in sight of our tiny islands.

More untruths were added by the commentator, saying that 200,000 turtle doves are shot by Maltese hunters every year. Again, each year 150,000 sparrows are shot and around three million finches trapped.

Naturally, this false information was given by those who, in the past few years, have been campaigning relentlessly against hunters and trappers.

The damage done to Malta's image by this false and exaggerated propaganda must have been greater than what hunters and trappers could have done in many years.