If I were a migrating bird I would put some questions to the hunters and trappers in Malta.

Is it possible that you do not care when you see us flying on your islands and immediately shoot at us without letting us rest and eat or drink after thousands of kilometres flying across Europe to Africa?

Do any laws exist there about safeguarding our right to live? I do not think so, because every year we face the same situation. I imagine what it would be like if, someday, we birds could arm ourselves and shoot back, if only to let you know how it feels to be shot at.

You prefer to kill something that is defenceless, and this shows you up as cowardly, arrogant and selfish. I just hope that some of you will redeem yourselves and stop killing us just for fun.

Is it possible that the human race, which is supposed to be the most intelligent, can say that this is a hobby?

What about the trappers, who use huge nets, even at night, to catch us and put those who survive this ordeal in prison in small cages? What would they say if they were to spend at least one night in a small prison cell? They would then know how we feel in those miserable cages.

I appeal to the authorities to defend us and not treat us as if we do not exist. We too have a right to live.