Birdlife Malta has said that starting yesterday and continuing today illegal hunters are targeting rare protected Spoonbills as a record three flocks totalling around 70 Spoonbills sought shelter in the southeast of Malta from gale force winds.

Many vehicles following the birds along the coast as the flocks dispersed to seek roost sites. The BirdLife Malta office received several reports of illegal hunting, including a report of 11 Spoonbills being killed in Delimara. The reports were forwarded to the ALE who sent patrols to the area, Birdlife said.

Fieldworkers sent to the area said that they heard over 25 shots from St Thomas Bay, with several more from Delimara where a team was told the ALE had confiscated a shotgun.

BirdLife Malta said it received photos of a hunter who fired a total of 6 shots at several Spoonbills, within just a few metres of residences in Marsascala. The photos were passed onto the ALE to help with investigations.

The orgainisation said that this morning at least 13 shots were heard from St Thomas Bay area. Only six Spoonbills were seen leaving their roosts, one of which had a dangling leg, an injury consistent with gunshot injuries.

The Eurasian Spoonbill (Paletta) is a scarce but regular visitor to the Maltese Islands. This impressive large white bird gets its name from the spoon-like tip of its long bill, which it uses to catch its aquatic prey from shallow lakes.

“These so called hunters have shot at protected species during the closed season on their migration to their breeding grounds,” said Nicholas Barbara, BirdLife Malta Policy and Conservation officer.

“The Spoonbill is listed under Annex I of the Bird Directive and is considered a rare bird in Europe. We are hopeful that the remaining Spoonbills have made it safely off the islands,” concluded Barbara.

This is one of the Spoonbill flocks which yesterday visited Malta seeking shelter from deadly gale force winds – Photo by BirdLife Malta.

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