Be the first to comment!Bird of prey shot in front of Spring Watch team – BLM
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BirdLife Malta said that its Spring Watch team witnessed at Handaq this morning a Montagu’s Harrier shot just a few hundred meters away and dropping dead out of the sky into a field.
Birdlife said, the protected bird of prey that fell into a field just a few meters from the spring watch team was recovered by police officers who responded to BirdLife Malta’s call.
Another Spring Watch team said it also witnessed two other birds of prey being shot down at Has-Saptan area next to the Luqa international airport. The police were called to the area.
The NGO went on to say that, “other Spring Watch teams yesterday recorded illegal shooting at all seven locations visited. Teams also recorded illegal electronic Quail lures, protected kestrels shot at in Marsascala, and armed hunters in the countryside on a Sunday morning when all hunting activity is illegal.”
“Furthermore over Sunday and Monday seven protected birds; four Marsh Harriers, a Grey Heron, a Montagu’s Harrier and a Yellow Legged Gull, were seen by Spring Watch teams in flight with injuries consistent with gunshot damage,” Birdlife said.
The BirdLife teams said that they, “have also been subject to aggressive behaviour. A pick-up truck yesterday evening stopped barely short of driving into a Spring Watch team at the Red Tower, causing one team member to jump out of its way to avoid being hit. A group of men then leapt out the truck and started insulting the volunteers.”
Birdlife said that the incident lasted 40 minutes during which team members were sworn at, insulted, and the local team leader threatened and told, “we know were you live.” Mobile police reacted to a call for assistance and dispersed the aggressors.
Birdlife concluded by saying it will be compiling a report and sending it to the European Commission at the end of the spring hunting derogation.
Photo shows a Montagu’s Harrier that was recovered by ALE officers after being shot down in front of a BirdLife Malta Spring Watch team this morning. Photo by Veronika Ferdinandova.
