Since the beginning of the hunting season, the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) Malta-based staff and volunteers “have observed numerous illegalities,” it said.

In a statement, CABS said that these include “the widespread use of illegal bird callers and attempts to kill protected bird species such as Hoopoes, falcons, Marsh Harriers and Turtle Doves.”The eNGO said that “the latest victim of illegal hunting is a female Kestrel [Spanjulet in Maltese] which was found by a CABS team on Easter Monday in a valley close to Birzebuggia.”

The bird has sustained typical shotgun injuries and was handed over to BirdLife Malta for treatment. A vet later confirmed that the bird was shot, CABS said.

On Tuesday morning a CABS team found and reported another active trapping site for protected Hawfinches in a field near the airport.

“When the trapper saw ALE coming he took the caged finch decoys and left the site.” ALE officers removed the trapping nets and CABS said that it has passed video evidence and the number plate of the trapper to ALE for court proceedings.

CABS today also released footage which documents dozens of cases of illegal bird trapping and hunting recorded by its teams since March.

Aside from many cases of illegal finch trapping, CABS said that the film also shows a poacher hunting during the closed season near Ghar Lapsi.

Photos CABS: Shot Kestrel found by CABS near Birzebuggia on Easter Monday and a Marsh Harrier flying with a dangling leg, a typical shotgun injury.

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