Open Spring Season Means More Protected Birds Shot
Results from a survey conducted during the spring 2011 open hunting season shows an increase in the illegal shooting of protected birds; 950 shots were recorded outside hunting hours, with 61 protected birds being shot, and 52 protected birds sustaining gunshot injuries during flight.
During the 2011 hunting season more protected birds were fired at and more protected birds were received by BirdLife Malta than during all of the hunting seasons combined over the last three years, during which time hunting seasons were either closed or boycotted.
Reports indicate that 1,842 turtle dove and 366 quail were killed by about 5,600 hunters over the 15 day season. However BirdLife Malta believes that far more were actually shot outside of hunting regulations, based on observations made within conservation camps.