BirdLife Malta said that just as the spring migration picks up with various sightings of birds over the past days, it was called on to rescue this Black-Winged Stilt found injured at Birzebbuga.

The NGO stated that next Wednesday an ORNIS Committee meeting is scheduled to discuss the opening or otherwise of a spring hunting season in the coming weeks, while also possibly deciding on a proposal which would see birds like this protected Black Winged Stilt make it legally into taxidermy collections.

BirdLife warned that “the combination of both decisions can potentially spell a disaster to the protection of avifauna on our islands as they reach Europe for their nesting period.”

It added that the injured bird was taken to the appointed veterinary clinic, where it was confirmed as suffering a shotgun injury to its chest.

Black-winged Stilts are protected species, that nest all over the Mediterranean including Malta’s Ghadira Nature Reserve in recent years.

BirdLife explained that if left undisturbed, these birds would seek refuge along various coastal areas and possibly breed in other locations too.

It went on to say that, “whereas the hunting season is not currently open, such an incident only goes to show that there are persons out there with guns ready to hunt down these species for taxidermy collections as they attempt to reach Europe this spring.”

Any encounters of illegal hunting and injured birds can be reported to BirdLife Malta on 21347646 (office hours) or 7925 5697.

Screenshot; Video footage by Cinzia Mintoff and Marcella Giornetti. Editing by Nathaniel Attard

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