1 comment.CABS discovers carcasses of protected migrant birds
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On the Dwejra Lines members of the German-based Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) today said it had discovered the corpses of numerous dead migrant birds shot by poachers. The organisation stated that the find consisted of 7 freshly-shot Bee-eaters, two Swifts, a Sardinian Warbler and the remains of two Marsh Harriers. All four species are strictly protected on Malta. In addition the corpses of several racing pigeons were found, one of them wearing the ring of a local racing pigeon club.
CABS said the birds were at the bottom of defensive ditch, some 5 metres deep, constructed by the British in the 19th Century. CABS continued, “in this area hunters had been observed on several occasions in the past few days shooting at protected species. Some of these incidents were also filmed by a CABS patrol. The video material and the dead birds were handed over to the Malta environmental police unit ALE. Criminal proceedings are being initiated.”
According to CABS, some 200 metres of the stretch of the densely overgrown and often almost penetrable ditch was searched. “We believe that many more dead birds can be found in the ditch,” says CABS press officer Axel Hirschfeld. “A search of the rest of the fortifications will only be possible with the help of professional climbing equipment.”
The Committee Against Bird Slaughter has been operating on Malta since 9 September in the framework of their autumn bird protection camp Operation Safe Voyage. CABS civil liaison officer David Conlin comments, “we deploy six teams to the countryside daily, working as usual closely with the ALE.”
CABS said that “although autumn bird migration is still far from its peak, the volunteer conservationists have already recorded numerous violations of Maltese Hunting Law and the European bird protection guidelines. These include the shooting at or killing of down of birds of prey, Swallows, Swifts, Bee-Eaters and other small song birds. Other offences registered are the use of electronic decoy devices and weapons capable of firing more than three shots in succession. Illegal hunting has also been observed taking place after 23:00 hrs and on Sunday afternoon.”
“A full interim report, as well as the video material shot by CABS to date, will be made public in the course of next week,” CABS concluded.
I remember some twenty years ago traveling down the valley to Xlendi when my car was peppered by gunshot coming from so called ‘hunters’ pursuing some hapless bird in their truck. All firing wildly from the back of their vehicle. It would seem I had got in the way. There appears to be a manic desire to cause harm to animals in this otherwise beautiful island. Guns are often assumed to be replacement parts for otherwise deficient males.