Malta gets worse

[Bobbie Ireland]

Following an opening salvo (understandable) from the blogger, there is an informative press release from BirdLife Malta.

http://10000birds.com/malta-new-month-same-old-shooting-gallery.htm

There is also an important link to the BirdLife Malta website with many good links re its work. Lots of good people there.

http://www.birdlifemalta.org/

[Bobbie Ireland]

If you go to the BirdLife Malta website, there is an audio stream from what appears to be last weekend. Sad listening, in spite of the distortion.

I have just signed their Guest Book with a message of support and a request for people to contact to voice both my encouragement and condemnation.

[Donna]

http://youtu.be/kts8mfLyB50  Here we go again! What is wrong with these people???

[Kris G.]

Here's what's happening in Serbia and UK...sick!

http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2014/04/25/10-white-tailed-eagles-poisoned-in-serbia-since-february-2014-annihilation 

http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2014/04/21/north-yorkshires-shame-one-of-englands-worst-counties-for-bird-of-prey-persecution

[Donna]

Videos - Hunters attack birdwatchers in Buskett after Valletta protest - one birdwatcher hurt

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140921/local/videos-hunters-attack-birdwatchers-in-buskett-after-valletta-protest-one-birdwatcher-hurt.536660  This place is absolutely INSANE!!!

[Kris G.]

Videos - Hunters attack birdwatchers in Buskett after Valletta protest - one birdwatcher hurt

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140921/local/videos-hunters-attack-birdwatchers-in-buskett-after-valletta-protest-one-birdwatcher-hurt.536660  This place is absolutely INSANE!!!

I totally agree..so many birds killed.

[MAK]

Malta is totally out of control. 

[Donna]

Injured protected bird crashes on Bugibba home

This bird, a protected Grey Heron, crashed into the porch of a house in Bugibba at 7.45 this morning.
The  bird had a broken leg and a gunshot wound under one of its wings.
The police are investigating the case.
The government on Saturday closed the autumn hunting season until October 10 because of regular shooting of protected birds. Hunters' associations condemned the decision as unfair collective punishment.
A group of some 200 hunters held a rowdy unofficial protest in Valletta yesterday afternoon and a group of some 30 clashed with birdwatchers in Buskett, throwing stones at them. An elderly birdwatcher was assaulted and suffered facial injuries. His camera was stolen.

Yup, people listen. This is so darn sad!! Wish I had the nerve to carry, I would injure some of these jerks. I HATE guns, they scare me! (I have my reasons). These derelicts just shoot at anything that flies by!

[MAK]

I hate even seeing or hearing the word Malta because it's always about the moron hunters there shooting whatever they feel like. Most of the time I won't even read the stuff-the world has gone mad! 

[Donna]

Heavy gunshots heard a few min a go while driving to work... The law is a mere guideline for these people...

Post on fb 

Here's the comments:

rabbit hunting
2 hrs · Like · 1

 Flying rabbits
2 hrs · Like

Hunting birdwatchers.
46 mins · Like

[Bobbie Ireland]

Malta DOES get worse and worse with every migration. As do Cyprus and a few other Med countries. All we can do is support the organisations that work for the birds - and refuse to spend any tourism dollars in such places. I am pleased to see that people on this forum are also interested in a topic which is dear to my heart. (No, Ireland is not squeaky-clean either... "we" seem to restrict our attention to BoPs. Lovely.)

[Donna]

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20141007/local/bird-trapper-caught-red-handed-with-protected-species.538754

Bird trapper caught red-handed with protected species: A man was arrested yesterday after he was caught red-handed manning an illegal trapping site and holding dozens of illegal bird species at Fomm ir-Riħ.

[MAK]

Hate seeing the word Malta-it's never good news, but this time at least they got one of the bas&$%ds! 

[Bobbie Ireland]

Anyone interested in this situation can "friend" BirdLife Malta on FB. Reports can get a tad garbled, but it does provide information on what is happening, what we can do...

[Donna]

‘Let autumn trappers catch 26,850 finches’

A total of 26,850 birds can be captured live over two months, according to the proposal for an autumn trapping season for seven species of finches, Times of Malta can reveal.
Trappers would be allowed to capture 5,000 chaffinch, 12,000 linnet, 800 goldfinch, 4,500 greenfinch, 500 hawfinch, 2,350 serin and 1,700 siskin species, assuming the numbers are respected and no illegalities occur.

Yeah right!! Disgusting!!

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140605/local/-Let-autumn-trappers-catch-26-850-finches-.521980#.VEE2Z86ZNCo.facebook