BirdLife Malta said in the first six days of the autumn hunting season it has already been alerted to “various occurrences of illegal hunting,” including cases in Gozo.

BirdLife Malta claimed that “some hunters are clearly taking advantage of the open season to illegally target protected species.”

Following the incident at Xwejni, Gozo where a juvenile Greater Flamingo was shot in front of tourists and taken away, last Saturday, BirdLife said that it also picked up an an injured Eleonora’s Falcon from Tal-Harrax, Gozo which was confirmed by the Government vet as being shot.

Then on Tuesday, the NGO said that it was contacted about another illegal hunting incident in Gozo. A resident came across an injured Little Egret in the sea off Xatt l-Ahmar with a broken leg.

“Gozo Police were called upon to retrieve the bird while the finder watched on. A Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) team was also present,” BirdLife said.In Malta, a flock of 12 Glossy Ibises migrating near Rabat on Monday were also targeted, with at least one bird seen shot down.

BirdLife said that it was later alerted by a member of the public to the presence of an injured ibis in the area. However, the had bird “disappeared” before it was able to collect it.

Also on Monday, flock of 60+ European Honey-buzzards that came to roost at Buskett were also targeted around the outskirts of the bird sanctuary, the NGO said.

On the same day, an injured Western Marsh-harrier with a dangling leg was seen flying over Buskett, indicative of a gunshot-inflicted injury,” said BirdLife Malta.

BirdLife Malta reiterated its call to the general public to report any illegalities immediately to the police on 119, asking to be transferred through to the Environmental Protection Unit (EPU). BirdLife Malta can also be reached regarding any sighted injured birds on 2134 7645 or on the emergency (out of office hours) number 7925 5697.

For more information on the current hunting season, please click here.

Photos: BirdLife Malta – Top – Wounded Eleonora’s Falcon picked up from Tal-Harrax, Gozo; Little Egret found injured at sea at Xatt l-Ahmar, Gozo; Below – Injured Glossy Ibis as photographed by a member of the public; and a Marsh-harrier flying over Buskett with an injured leg

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