Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546572
6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 16 SEPTEMBER 2026 NEWS REPORTS of illegal hunting skyrocketed after last Sunday's storms over the Mediterrane- an brought a large number of birds seeking shelter on Malta, Birdlife said. The NGO said it was inun- dated with calls from mem- bers of the public reporting illegal hunting and shooting accidents, some of which were reported to district police for bodily harm, near Żurrieq, Marsaskala, Wardija, Girgenti, and Luqa. According to birdwatchers, large flocks of European Tur- tle-doves, European Rollers, Golden Orioles, and Lesser Kestrels were among the vari- ous species stopping on the is- land throughout Sunday night and Monday morning as the migrate south towards Africa. The storm brought their yearly migration trip to a halt as they stopped on the islands to seek shelter and wait out the storm. However, according to Birdlife, these birds have been met with thousands of hunters making their presence felt in the countryside. In one incident, a Grey Heron fell onto the boundaries of the airport with shotgun injuries. At Marsaskala's St Thom- as Bay, Birdlife said a flock of over 150 Little Egrets came under fire on Monday morn- ing leaving at least two birds shot and killed. Other birds were seen injured in flight, in- cluding a Night Heron fleeing out of Miżieb with a dangling leg. The scale of hunting activ- ity was so evident that the Wild Birds Regulation Unit decided to close the season on Turtle-doves after the au- tumn quota of 500 birds was reached. The autumn hunting season only began 14 days ago on 1 September. However, environmental po- lice units found themselves struggling to keep up with re- ports of shot birds and illegali- ties across the islands, Birdlife explained. Hunting continued throughout the day regardless, with a Birdlife team in Wardi- ja reported a hunter shooting down and collection a Tur- tle-dove after the closure was announced. By the afternoon, a num- ber of flocks of over 500 Tur- tle-doves and European Roll- ers flew over Buskett into the safety of the bird sanctuary. However, these birds were shot at the minute they left the area. A further three incidents of European Rollers being shot down were reported in Gir- genti and Xagħra tal-Isqof, with another two birds pho- tographed flying with grievous injuries, according to Birdlife. The spike in hunting activity has extended beyond only birds and has even begun impacting people strolling through the countryside. Birdlife noted this after a woman was report- edly hit three times by hunting pellets while walking her dogs in Selmun. The NGO expressed its sol- idarity with the woman along with all those who has been harassed or put at risk while walking around Malta's coun- tryside. "The countryside has been allowed to be taken over by a hunting culture in which, far too often, hunters appear to believe they can do as they please," Birdlife remarked. "This is a grave and deeply un- fair situation that cannot go unnoticed." This situation, it said, comes as a result of years of weakened enforcement, weakened laws, and tolerance towards those who repeatedly break them. Birdlife called on govern- ment and the FKNK to take responsibility for the culture they have helped create and stop remaining silent when people and protecting wildlife are put at risk. The organisation further launched an urgent appeal to Home Affairs Minister Glenn Bedingfield to consider upscal- ing the resources of the Envi- ronmental Protection Unit to help cater for peak migration situations such as those seen over the past few days. "The public is angry, and rightly so. People have a right to enjoy the countrysideNsafe- ly. It is time to get our priori- ties right," it said. Birdlife concluded by en- couraging the public to remain vigilant and contact police by calling 119 if they witness any illegal hunting accidents. Peo- ple may also contact Birdlife directly. Hunters target storm-stranded migratory birds as BirdLife reports widespread illegalities EVA BRANNON ebrannon@mediatoday.com.mt Birdlife said it was flooded by reports of illegal hunting over Monday and Tuesday as last weekend's storm brought hundreds of birds to seek shelter on the island (Photo: Birdlife) A European Roller seen flying over Buskett with multiple shotgun injuries (Photo: Birdlife)