I've just returned from volunteering at Birdlife Malta's Raptor Camp and thought some of the blog readers might be interested to get some more information about the illegal hunting and trapping situation out there.
A sky full of birds...
is the one thing I hoped I would not see after the first couple of days of volunteering during Birdlife Malta's Raptor Camp. Many of you will probably know about the issue of illegal hunting and trapping of wild birds in the Mediterranean. It had been sitting on the back of my mind until I read the feature in July's issue of National Geographic magazine, which provided a good illustration of the perils migrating birds face on their journey. Shortly afterwards I came across the announcement of Birdlife's Raptor Camp. My initial reaction was one of not ever wanting to set foot in a country where wild birds are subject to such atrocities. A few days later, I received Twitter posts about the progress of the Osprey chicks at the Dyfi Osprey Project and what suddenly became very clear was that the UK, and many other European countries, invest a lot of money and uncountable hours of volunteers' time to make sure these birds have a successful breeding season and are in a fit state to start their migration come autumn. Some of these birds will fly over Malta where they will face a barrage of gunshots. If they happen to be one of the rarer migrating raptor species, highly valued by Maltese hunters, there is a good chance not a single individual will leave the island alive. On top of this, there is the sheer scale of the relentless legal shooting of species such as the turtle dove, the re-introduction of spring hunting by the Maltese government, and even talks about a return of finch trapping, all using various loopholes in the EU's Birds Directive. So I decided to go and see for myself what exactly was going on. What I saw and experienced is difficult to describe in a few words - local volunteers were talking of 'valleys of death' and 'killing fields' and, without wanting to sound derogatary towards the cruelty and pain inflicted in human warfare, there is indeed a war going on and the fight is virtually for each single bird that appears in the sky. It is, of course, a personal decision whether you decide to visit Malta or not. If you decide not to, maybe consider telling the tourist board or your MEP why you are not going. If you decide to go, consider joining Birdlife's Springwatch (April) or Raptor Camp (September) events. Is it likely to break your heart? Yes. Will I go back? Yes again. Because what really inspired me was the dedication of the Birdlife team and volunteers. The fact that a significant number of Maltese volunteers joined this year's Raptor Camp illustrates that a growing proportion of the Maltese population is turning against illegal hunting. And then there is the sight of these five Marsh Harriers, which we guarded as they came down to roost in 'death valley' Mtahleb one evening, taking off in the morning to continue their journey towards Africa. If you are interested, please follow this link to volunteers' blogposts during Raptor Camp, which provide a range of different perspectiveshttp://birdlifemalta.blogspot.co.uk/. I will also shortly receive a presentation from one of my fellow team members, which I am happy to present if a few people are interested and we can find a location. As for Ceredigion bird sightings, as I sit here writing this, two Red Kites are circling above my garden. Of course, the picture is not all rosy where the protection of wild birds and other wild species in the UK is concerned, but I feel extremely privileged and grateful to be able to sit here and admire these birds up in the sky without immediate fear for their survival.
Silke.
I've said it before and I'll say it again - I will NEVER set foot on Malta.
It's about time there was a campaign to persuade tourists to stop going there until this unforgivable slaughter is brought to an end.