Protected birds were illegally targeted during the night after hundreds of raptors and a flock of 22 spoonbills, among other protected birds, flew into Malta to roost on Tuesday, BirdLife Malta has reported.
The 22 spoonbills roosted close to the Salina Bird Sanctuary, a known hotspot of illegal hunting and trapping activity. After dusk they left the area, followed by a team of BirdLife's Raptor Camp who lost sight of them in the dark. In the morning, only nine of the spoonbills headed south-westerly to leave Malta, while three spoonbills with visible gunshot injuries remained in Salina with another two birds. The fate of the remaining Spoonbills is unknown.
BirdLife Malta feared that two of the spoonbills at Salina suffered lethal injuries. The spoonbills are currently being monitored by BirdLife Malta and the ALE. A rescue operation launched Wednesday by the ALE and Animal Ambulance had to be postponed as the birds, though seriously injured, could fly short distances.
Several hundred raptors roosted in Malta, mainly around the Buskett Dingli area though around 100 also roosted in Mizieb. A Raptor Camp team mounting a night watch at one of the larger roosts in Girgenti heard 26 shots during the night.
“The targeting of protected birds during the night invariably takes place every time rare species roost in the islands.” said Dr Andre Raine, BirdLife Malta Conservation Manager. “This is clear indication of just how ridiculous the illegal hunting situation in Malta is, and it is about time that the government accepts the situation for what it is – a serious international conservation problem.”
Grahame Madge of Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), who has witnessed illegal hunting in Malta, said: "The spoonbill is a conservation icon across Europe. This year in the UK, the spoonbill has enjoyed its best year for several centuries with 10 young being reared. However, it appears that Maltese hunters have killed or injured more spoonbills than this in one night's orgy of slaughter."
Currently, the RSPB's BirdLife International partner in the islands - BirdLife Malta - is dealing with a high level of incidents of protected birds of prey being shot and targeted.
