The Lincolnshire Bird Club

DEMAND THAT MALTA RESPECTS THE EU LAW AND STOP KILLING OF PROTECTED BIRDS

http://www.birdlifemalta.org/petition/

In Europe and Africa, wild birds and their habitats are protected through the efforts of conservation organisations and governments that are spending millions of Euros to ensure their future.

These same birds migrate from Europe to Africa every autumn, travelling thousands of kilometres to spend the winter in warmer climates. Every spring, they migrate back to Europe to breed and replenish their numbers.

During each journey, the migratory birds are in peril as they fly over Malta, where they continue to be gunned down. Every year, protected species are killed; every spring and every autumn. Law enforcement is under resourced and unable to control the scale of illegal hunting.



There are nearly 12,000 hunters on the small island.

Whereas spring hunting is not permitted under the EU Birds Directive because this is the breeding season and a chance for birds to replenish their numbers, Malta has opened the spring hunting season every year since it joined the EU in 2004.

Over the last years, BirdLife Malta has been instrumental in ensuring that Malta strengthens its bird protection laws through its public and advocacy campaigns.

http://www.birdlifemalta.org/petition/

Unless we protect the migratory 'flyways' over the Mediterranean, conservation efforts in Europe and Africa are in vain.Spring hunting was not allowed in 2008 and 2009 thanks to an interim measure issued by the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Last year, the ECJ found that Malta had been in breach of European law for allowing spring hunting (of turtle dove and quail) without meeting the conditions of a derogation since it became a member state.

In spite of this, the Maltese government is still considering opening what it calls a “limited spring hunting season” in 2010. The government also continues to undermine the true scale and seriousness of illegal hunting.

BirdLife Malta and BirdLife International partnership are determined to ensure that the advances made are not reversed.



This is where you come in.

Unless we protect the migratory ‘flyways’ over the Mediterranean, conservation efforts in Europe and Africa are in vain. This is because170 bird species regularly migrate over Malta. When they reach Malta, these birds are at their weakest. Many will try to rest on Malta and feed to build up their strength for the last leg of their journey. Instead, many meet their death.

Last September, volunteers from BirdLife Malta and another bird conservation group (CABS) found the remains of over 200 protected birds buried in a woodland used as hunting grounds.

The remains included marsh harriers, honey-buzzards and night herons among other protected species. And this case is only one example that reflects the true scale of the illegal killing of protected birds in Malta.

Over the last three years, BirdLife Malta staff and volunteers have suffered intimidation, criminal damage, arson attacks and violence. A BirdLife Ranger has been shot at and injured twice.

Support BirdLife Malta's campaign against illegal hunting in Malta and help to end the killing of protected migratory birds.

http://www.birdlifemalta.org/petition/
TAKE ACTION NOW AND SIGN THE PETITION

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Andrew Chick
Website: http://www.forktail.co.uk/

As I am visiting Malta in the next few weeks I have been doing a little homework on birds on the island (I have already voted on the spring hunting issue). I am astonished that Malta only appears to have two small "official" nature reserves which are apparently fenced and have opening times. These reserves do indeed attract a large number of species not only migratory but also breeding abd both come under attack from illegal hunters. This is an extract from Birdlife Malta's website detailing the problem:

Ghadira Reserve
"The indiscriminate hunting and trapping that has occurred over the last fifty years means that significant numbers of migrating birds that land in Malta never make it to their final destination. The reserve is a rare sanctuary. Hunting and trapping of birds within 500m of the area has been banned here for over three decades. Although hunting is permitted on more than two-thirds of the Maltese islands, hunters still occasionally break into the reserve and shoot any migrating birds that land there for a well-deserved rest. The reserve has also been attacked in other ways - for example, large quantities of oil were dumped into the pools and reservoirs in an attempt to destroy the fragile wetland ecosystem."

It is difficult to understand how this can happen in a developed country but we must do our best to help Birdlife Malta in their quest to halt spring hunting - vote now!

David

Hi David,
As you are going to Malta in the next few weeks you will be interested in reading the following posts
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=7206

Regards,

Freddy

Hi
I have visited Malta for a month each winter for the past seven years so do know a little about the Island and about the Maltese. I have visited both of the Reserves ( Ghadira and Is-Simar) Both are very small, but very interesting. They are both surrounded by high wire fences and contain very good Hides. Unfortunately they are only open at the weekends in the winter. They both have lagoons and these contain such birds as Grebes, Tufted Ducks, Mallards and Herons etc., the Reserves have many of the Warblers and quite a cross section of the SBJ's Last year they even had a wild Flamingo that just flew in and stayed for most of the winter. I understand from the Wardens that they get many birds passing through in the Autumn and back in the Spring. It seemed very strange to see House Martins, Swifts and Swallows skimming the water in the middle of February.
Now to the bad part. The Wardens say that they have break ins to the Reserve quite often and there has been much damage done both to the Reserve itself and also to the Visiter Centre and Hides. The Maltese are a friendly nation and make you feel very welcome but they have an incredible number of Gun Clubs and there are many shops that make a living selling amunition, so you can tell how much they must sell. Hardly a day goes by when you do not hear shooting. Everywhere you go, particularly on the coast line you will find perches that are set up for unsuspecting birds to land on so that they can be shot from Hides that are constucted for the purpose. All this is very sickening as they do not seem to have any thought for Birds at all. "If it moves shoot it" is their philosophy. Their Government seems to protect the Shooters and prosecution is difficult as the Shooter must be found in possesion of the shot bird before they can be aprehended. Every year they announce that the shooting will stop and that it is illegal to shoot birds, but every year they then announce a "Hunting Season" and all hell breaks out.
The Maltese Government must be brought to book for all this, but how you do it is another question. It is a great shame that this goes on as Malta is a wonderful Island steeped in History and the climate's not bad either!!!.
Any way I hope David, you enjoy the Island and I will be interested to hear of your experiences when you come home
Malcolm.

Thank you Freddy and Malcolm,
The purpose of the trip is not solely birdwatching but I always take advantage of the time my dear wife spends in the pool/spa/beach and go off with my binos. So I will not have too great expectations but by the sound of it I will be disappointed with all the visible evidence of the hunting/trapping etc. I think I will probably leave my large lens (3.8kg) at home and bring back more plonk!

Kind Regards

David