On the eve of the opening of the new hunting season, BirdLife Malta has started to receive illegally shot birds, including a Night Heron (Kwakka) found in the gardens of the Presidential Palace in Attard

The conservation organisation today urged Government to actively combat all forms of illegal hunting. President of BirdLife Malta, Joseph Mangion said: "BirdLife Malta calls on Government to reinforce the Administrative Law Enforcement section (A.L.E.) to ensure that the situation on the ground can be adequately monitored.

Throughout the hunting season, BirdLife Malta will continue to pass on reports outlining all illegal hunting incidents and all injured birds received to both the ALE and MEPA."

The Night Heron found at San Anton Palace gardens exhibited two wounds, one in its stomach and a fatal shot which practically severed its left wing from its body.

Apart from the Night Heron, another two protected birds brought to the office were a Common Kingfisher (Ghasfur ta' San Martin) and a Grey Heron (Russett Griz), both of which succumbed to their injuries. The Grey Heron was also recovered in Attard while the Common Kingfisher was picked up at Mellieha Bay. All these three species are protected, non-huntable species under national law (LN79) and throughout the European Union (under the Birds Directive). Apart from being protected species, they were also shot at out of the hunting season.

Maltese renowned photographer Joe Zammit-Lucia residing in the USA recently contacted BirdLife Malta while on holiday expressing his concern about the ongoing illegal hunting in Malta and his wish to document illegally shot birds. Dr Zammit-Lucia visited the BirdLife Malta office and took photos of the shot Night Heron (see photo).

"BirdLife Malta will continue to collaborate with the authorities, as it has always done," said Mr. Mangion.

Injured protected species picked up by BirdLife Malta members, who have a MEPA permit to handle dead or injured protected species, will be taken to a vet for the injuries to be assessed. If the injuries are too severe, the vet euthanises them and the bodies are then passed on to the Natural History Museum. If they can be rehabilitated, the birds are given to a BirdLife Malta volunteer who rehabilitates them under licence from MEPA. Once they have been brought back to health, they are then released back into the wild.

"Autumn is when the wild birds start their migration from Europe to their wintering grounds in Africa. It is a natural phenomenon that offers Maltese citizens an opportunity to witness these beautiful creatures. On the other hand, BirdLife recognizes the right of the Maltese hunters to hunt certain species that are allowed by law during the autumn hunting season. We sincerely hope that all the hunters will obey the law and allow the protected species to continue their journey to their wintering grounds," concluded Mr. Mangion.