The hunters’ federation yesterday condemned the shooting of a flock of spoonbills that occurred sometime between Tuesday and Wednesday, describing it as a “disgrace to anyone who loves birds and the environment”.

The case was brought to light by BirdLife on in a statement Wednesday saying that 22 spoonbills had roosted close to the Salina Bird Sanctuary.

“In the morning only nine of the spoonbills headed south-westerly to leave Malta, while three spoonbills with visible gunshot injuries remained in Salina with another two birds. The fate of the remaining spoonbills is unknown,” BirdLife had said.

In its reaction, the Federation for Hunters, Trappers and Conservationists (FKNK) said it was informed that poachers had managed to sneak through a guarded area and shoot at the birds, killing several.

“Without reservation and with all responsibility on behalf of its members, the FKNK condemns such vile acts. In fact, the FKNK is hereby officially calling on all its members to notify the ALE section of the Malta Police immediately if any one of them has any knowledge of any facts that could lead to the incrimination of the perpetrators,” it said in a statement yesterday.

The statement comes after another released on Wednesday in which FKNK expressed deep scepticism over a find by conservationists of about 80 dead protected birds in the Miżieb woodland.