It was a very sad day on Thursday for a beautiful, majestic Osprey, which on its migration route approached Gozo as it crossed the Maltese Islands.

This highly-protected bird of prey made it no further than Mgarr, and on Thursday afternoon the Osprey was recovered by BirdLife Malta with gunshot wounds.

BirdLife Malta said that they were called for assistance by a tourist in Gozo, who found the shot Osprey below Fort Chambray.

The eNGO said that the person stood next to the wounded Osprey until she made contact with BirdLife Malta, thereby managing to discourage any hunter from picking up this highly-prized trophy.

The bird was rescued and ferried to the Wild Birds Regulation Unit-appointed veterinary who found the bird with a severely open fracture. Unfortunately the bird didn’t make it, BirdLife Malta said.In fact, two highly-protected birds of prey were shot down by hunters on that day, Birdlife said. The other was a Red-footed Falcon retrieved from a children’s playground in Qormi with severe injuries after being found by members of the public. “The bird was possibly shot at from the area.”

BirdLife Malta said that both birds were confirmed by the Government Vet as having been illegally shot.

The spring hunting season, which was only for Turtle-dove and Quail closed today.

Photos: Osprey by Benjamin Grech and Red-Footed Falcon by BLM

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