Rfalconcam Forum

I read - and send - this with equal amounts of sadness and anger. From the RSPB.

Last modified: 24 September 2010

A conservation icon across most of Europe, spoonbills are still targeted illegally by Maltese hunters.

Malta has been shamed yet again by its illegal bird hunters who have blasted a number of spoonbills this week which were passing through the islands on migration from Europe to Africa.

A flock of 22 spoonbills - relatives of storks and herons - were observed roosting in the north of Malta, but horrified birdwatchers scanning the flock the following morning observed that three of the birds had blood-soaked feathers on their all-white plumage after being shot by illegal hunters. Of the original 22 birds, only nine have continued their journey to Africa, while five have remained at a nature reserve, including the three injured birds. Two of the injured birds have now been taken into care by the authorities.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?id=tcm:9-261186

Donna, only an international outcry/protest from people like us re this and other assaults on wildlife will see a change in habits and attitudes. As I read all the wonderful reports from the RFalcon site, my work here in Ireland over the years always leads me to places in which things are not quite as idyllic. As you have posted, the UK and Ireland are not innocent in their treatment of BoPs. So, while I can do very little re the ROC falcons at this distance, I am compelled to let others know about what is going on elsewhere... hoping that the dissemination of information will, in some small way, bring about positive changes.