Malta is an important way-point for birds migrating between Europe and Africa. But the spring and autumn migrations attract illegal hunters, who pick off the birds as they fly overhead. There has been a huge rise in illegal hunting in recent years, prompting conservationist group BirdLife Malta to set up camps to deter illegal hunters. Volunteer Steve Butler reports on his experiences at this year’s camp.
It’s 0545 and I am sitting on the edge of a cliff overlooking a valley at Mtahleb with my team of fellow volunteers, waiting for the sun to rise. I strain my eyes to distinguish the figures moving around in the darkness of the surrounding countryside. As we listen to the dogs barking and the sound of gunshots echoing around the hills, we wonder how the hunters can see the birds at this hour, never mind shoot them. In the first light we start to discern the hunters’ dogs running in and out of the bushes to flush out quail and turtle dove. One is successful: a turtle dove leaves the tree, we hear shouting and see a hunter raise his gun towards the bird which has flown directly in front of us. In Malta, hunting licences allow the shooting of turtle dove, quail, woodcock and duck. There is a loud gunshot and we instinctively drop to the floor. As the bird plummets and lead rains down beside us, we wonder if it was skill or fluke that prevented the hunter from shooting one of us by mistake in his frenzy to kill the bird. The sound of lead periodically sprinkling down around us throughout the early morning is quite unnerving and we are pleased when the sun has finally risen. … “Three species have gone extinct in the Maltese islands as a result of illegal hunting – the peregrine falcon, the barn owl and the jackdaw.” One legal hunter (who asked not to be named) has spoken out against illegal hunting in Malta. “Illegal hunters are destroying the sport I have enjoyed since a child with my grandfather and father,” he says. He adds that the illegal shooting of birds he witnesses on a daily basis is “heartbreaking”. “The youngsters that are doing this do not understand hunting, it is not in their blood, they just want to shoot at anything that flies,” he adds. “Sometimes you see them chasing protected birds in their cars or on motorbikes.” …
Black storks down: The battle to end illegal bird hunting in Europe
