1 comment.Highly protected Black Kite shot down in Addolorata Cemetery – BLM
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BirdLife Malta has reported that a “highly protected Black Kite has been shot down in a protected area during the closed hunting season.”
The eNGO said that it has also retrieved another injured Turtle Dove, “with total of known illegally shot protected birds so far in 2019 now standing at 36.”
BirdLife Malta, in a statement said that it was called to attend at Addolorata Cemetery this morning, where the NGO found “a highly protected Black Kite (Astun Iswed in Maltese) which was shot down and landed in the area.” It said that Police have been called in and are investigating the case.
“It’s just four days since the spring hunting season has been closed,” and according to BirdLife, “following the storm of last night, hunters have been out this morning, with shots reported by members of the public in various areas.”
BirdLife pointed out that “this Black Kite, aside from being a highly protected bird of prey, has been shot within a prohibited area and during the closed season.”
The eNGO stated that it it is hoping Police are able to catch the suspect after providing them with the relevant information.
BirdLife Malta explained that Black Kites are more commonly seen in spring rather than autumn, yet are not as common on migration as other birds of prey we see during spring like Marsh Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier or kestrels. Their appearance is unmistakable with a forked tail and large size.
It said that as with other birds of prey, Black Kites do not like traversing large tracts of open sea especially in increment weather. “This kite would have possibly arrived in Malta the day before, and would have been just leaving its roost this morning awaiting for the weather to warm up.”
Large birds, such as kites will leave their roosts later in the morning to make most of thermals as the day warms up, BirdLife Malta said. This helps them gain height to then migrate.
Just an hour after BirdLife was called to recover the injured Black Kite at Addolorata, the eNGO said that it received another call regarding a Turtle Dove (Gamiema) which was found injured just outside a school at Birgu.
The Turtle Dove has been found bleeding from a wing and is being taken to the government vet.
BirdLife Malta argued that, “this year’s spring hunting season, which closed last Tuesday, served as a smokescreen for hunters to illegally target the Turtle Dove in spite of the fact it was supposedly only open for Quail (Summiena).”
It said that, “seven shot Turtle Doves were recovered in all by BirdLife Malta since the start of the peak migration season of this now red-listed protected bird species.”
BirdLife Malta stated that “this is just the tip of the iceberg since during the past weeks and days our Spring Watch teams in the countryside observed hundreds of Turtle Doves being shot down.”
The eNGO concluded by saying that “with these two most recent illegal hunting casualties received this morning, the total of known illegally shot protected birds retrieved by BirdLife Malta and police so far in 2019 has now reached 36.”
Photographs: BirdLife Malta
If Gozo would become a bird sanctuary, with NO hunting, there would be birders come in from all over the world to observe the birds. Think of the economic impact that would have on the economy.