BirdLife Malta has said that a shot Marsh Harrier found dead in Mizieb woodland was collected by Administrative Law Enforcement officers on Sunday afternoon, after Raptor Camp volunteers were led to the location by the member of public who had stumbled upon the body of the protected bird while out walking.

BLM added that “the police were called as soon as the Raptor Camp team had verified that the bird was a protected species, an adult female Marsh Harrier, (Circus aeruginosus), or Baghdan ahmar in Maltese. Photographs were taken of the bird in situ and the team waited for police officers to arrive. The attending officers inspected the bird for signs of injuries and found shotgun wounds to the belly and right wing.”“The dead harrier,” BirdLife Malta said, “was found in an area of the public woodland managed as a ‘hunting reserve’ by the Federation of Hunters, Trappers and Conservationists (FKNK), who yesterday claimed that there was no evidence that illegal hunting was taking place during the autumn hunting season.”

BLM continued, “in recent statements FKNK spokespeople have repeatedly asserted that the presence of “legal hunters” in the countryside is the best deterrent to illegal hunting, calling on their members to report any incidents of illegal hunting and promising in will not tolerate any abuses.”

“The discovery of this shot protected bird in the FKNK’s stronghold of Mizieb, where the presence of “legal”, licensed hunters and FKNK card carrying members is higher than anywhere else on the islands, raises serious doubts about these claims,” said Steve Micklewright, BirdLife Malta’s Executive Director.

“This is just one of the incidents of illegal killing of protected birds BirdLife Malta has recorded since the start of Raptor Camp on 15th September. Raptor Camp volunteers have witnessed dozens of illegal hunting incidents, including shooting at and killing of protected species, use of illegally modified shotguns and hunting outside legal hours,” BLM said.

“It would be very interesting and revealing to know how many and what illegalities have been witnessed and reported to the FKNK by the association’s 12,000 law-abiding members, compared with the number our half-dozen or so teams have witnessed and recorded in the last 10 days,” said Mr Micklewright.

“Presumably none, if they are sticking to the line that there is no evidence of illegal hunting taking place. That in itself would say a lot about the expectation that legal hunters can be relied on to report illegal hunting and so help to police the hunting season.” Mr Micklewright concluded.

BirdLife reminded anyone witnessing illegal hunting that they should call the police on 112 or the ALE on 2294 2161 / 62 / 63 or District Police on 119.

A summary of what is legal and what is illegal during this year’s autumn hunting is available on BirdLife Malta’s website, www.birdlifemalta.org, along with instructions for how to report illegal hunting to the police and what information they will need. BLM also request that they are advised about any report.

If you find an injured wild bird, you can call BirdLife Malta on 2134 7644 – 46.

Photos – Shot female Marsh Harrier, Baghdan ahmar in Maltese, found dead in Mizieb woodlan: Photo by Caroline Rance. And ALE officers inspected the body of the protected bird: Photo by Caroline Rance.

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