osprey killed

[Guest guest]

my apologies for cross posting -- david

 

The Malta Times - Friday, 27th October 2000

Hunter seen shooting osprey from roadside.

 

Several motorists witnessed a hunter's ruthlessness last

Wednesday when a large osprey was targeted from the middle

of a road and shot dead, Birdlife said yesterday.

The motorists on the road leading from Rabat to Zebbug

were treated to a magnificent view of the osprey when the

protected bird decided to perch on an electricity pole

adjacent to the road. But the " show " was cut short when a

hunter in a Landrover stopped in the middle of the road

within metres of the bird and killed it.

 

Passing motorists must have been awed at the sight of the

large black and white bird, a rare one in Europe but a

regular in autumn in Malta, Birdlife said.

 

Reports reaching Birdlife said that traffic piled up as

the hunter stopped his Landrover and walked to the middle

of the road, stopped, aimed and shot the bird dead. He

then quickly ran into the adjacent field where the dead

bird had fallen, picked it up and sped off.

 

Reports said that as the hunter shot the bird, the spent

cartridge hit a passing car. Two police cars driving

through the area noticed the commotion and followed the

Landrover. Efforts to find out whether the hunter was

eventually apprehended proved fruitless.

 

The osprey is a bird of prey with a maximum wingspan of

1.65 metres. It feeds entirely on fish and is often found

inhabiting lakes and rivers where it builds a huge nest on

top of a pine tree.

 

It is protected all over Europe, including Malta.

Birdlife said the dead bird was on its way to Africa where

it was going to spend the winter before returning to breed

next spring. Birdlife condemned the illegal killing and

appealed to the authorities to take the necessary action

to prosecute the offender. In such cases, the tools used

to carry out the illegal act should be confiscated.

 

In the UK, such an act would carry a fine running into

thousands of pounds, as well as a jail term. Birdlife

appealed to witnesses to report the case and any other

illegal bird killing to the ALE. When contacted, a

spokesman for the ALE confirmed that they were receiving

calls practically every day from people complaining of

illegal hunting. The ALE, which is manned by about 20

officials, responded to every report made, the spokesman

said.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

An abstract from Mr. denis cachia on the October sightings

of birds in Malta and that some where seen shot.

 

Osprey: 1 at Dwejra on 11th. 1 at Ta' Cenc (Ghawdex)

on 20th. 1 shot at Zebbug/Rabat on 25th.

1 shot at Ghajn Tuffieha also on 25th.

 

Short-toed Eagle: 9 at Dwejra on 5th. 1 at Buskett on

4th. 1 shot at Dwejra on 17th. 1 at Ghajn Tuffieha on

25th........

*****************************************

Malta Tourist Action

Saving the migratory birds of Europe and Africa

*****************************************

" BACKGROUND INFO "

http://homepage.mac.com/davidcam/awareness <<

click here for more information, photos and video

about the dire state of these migratory birds.

 

LETTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER

Mail this letter to the address below, there is no need

for a zip or post code. Postage is regular air mail to

Europe.

" SAMPLE LETTER "

 

________CUT, PASTE AND PRINT FROM HERE___________

Prime Minister Fenech Adami

Office of the Prime Minister

Auberge de Castille

Valletta,

Malta.

 

Dear Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami:

 

 

I appreciate your administration's strong commitment to

protecting the Maltese island's natural heritage. Your

leadership is essential because Malta and Ghawdex lost

their spectacular landscapes to the bird hunters and

trappers. The Maltese Islands can be a natural refuge of

wilderness, home to an abundant wildlife of countless

migratory birds, but you have to act now.

 

The bird hunters and trappers want to keep killing

millions of these migratory birds for " sports " and for

collecting trophies. The display cases in the living rooms

and the tiny little cages in dark garages are filled with

stuffed and captive birds, but the islands are turned into

a lifeless big rock and there are no varieties of birds

flying in the open, big, blue sky.

 

So the hunters disregard the right to a healthy

environment for the Maltese as well as for the Africans

and Europeans. The right to a healthy environment is

fundamental, it is a human right. Then also the defense of

the migratory birds is an aspect of the human rights.

 

If I visit Malta as a tourist, I will encourage these

hunters to keep on killing and caging these birds through

my support of the tourist industry. I don't want to

promote this kind of cruelty. And I don't want to be

endangered by hunters who are allowed to shoot directly

from secondary roads and villages in your densely

populated country. However, if you promote ecotourism by

fully protecting these birds, you will attract more

tourists than ever.

 

We urge you to exercise the powers of your office to

protect these migratory birds that we respect, by

designating the Maltese Archipelago a natural refuge and

to abolish and prosecute hunting and trapping.

 

Sincerely,

 

(Your Signature, Name and Address)