Malta 7 - fångstplatser

Ett typiskt fångstplatsområde, NW ändan av Malta. 14.4.2011. Foto: Håkan Eklund.

Förutom att malteserna ohejdat dödar fridlysta fåglar som nöjesjakt fångar de helt lagligt fåglar som vi uppe i Norden inte kan tänka oss att ha som jaktbyten, bl.a. taltrast, rödvingetrast, koltrast, dubbeltrast, björktrast, stare, tofsvipa, kustpipare, ljungpipare, brushane, tofsvipa, enkelbeckasin och dvärgbeckasin och 19 arter till, som jagas 1.9-31.1.

Detta beror på att de inte har just något annat att jaga på öarna, som de själva "tömt" på egna arter via sitt hejdlösa skjutande.

Till och med den egna populationen av kajor har de gjort sig av med samt vaktel och turturduva. Därför är jägarna helt beroende av flyttfåglar.

Bland annat trastar fångas i slagnät under hösten; här uppe på heden (bilden) finns det massor med "trapping sites" där de riggar upp sina slagnät för att fånga rastande flyttfåglar.

Och vad göra våra nordiska EU-parlamentariker? Knappast något. Vår egen (gäller Finland) finlandssvenska EU-parlamentariker Carl Haglund hjälper istället ålänningarna att bryta mot EU:s  fågeldirektiv, genom att utöka vårfågeljakten på Åland, i likhet med malteserna. Ansvarslöst! Detta i ett EU, där vi väl borde ha gemensamma värderingar på vad som är rätt och fel. Räcker det inte med alla hot och svårigheter som våra flyttfåglar möter utanför EU, som är svårare att åtgärda.

Klistrar in senaste lägesrapport från vårkampanjen 2011 på Malta:

Media update

Almost as many shot protected birds recovered this hunting season as during same periods in 2008, 2009, 2010 combined

25^th April 2011, Malta – Over the past 48 hours BirdLife Malta has recovered five shot protected birds, bringing the total number of protected birds recovered since the start of this year’s spring hunting season on April 13^th  up to 12.

 This is almost equal to the number of shot protected birds received by BirdLife Malta during the same time periods in 2008, 2009 and 2010 when a combined total of 13 shot protected birds were recovered.

 One of the birds received by the organisation, a Purple Heron, was recovered by a member of the public who was asked to give the bird to individuals to be stuffed and mounted.  This person refused and instead handed the bird over to BirdLife Malta.

 The bird received veterinary care and one of its legs, which was broken beyond recovery by gunshot, has been amputated.  The bird has however been given the go-ahead for release by the vet, which took place this afternoon at the Simar Nature Reserve.

The other birds recovered are a Black Kite, a Common Kestrel, a Cuckoo and a Racing Pigeon.

Black Kites and Purple Herons are both species of conservation concern in Europe and therefore offered the highest level of protection, being listed under Annex 1 of the Birds Directive. These birds are also highly prized by illegal hunters for inclusion in collections of stuffed protected birds.

Apart from rare species which are highly prized by illegal hunters, BirdLife Malta has also received shot protected birds of commoner species, such as Common Kestrel and Marsh Harrier.

“In 13 days during the hunting season this year we have recovered almost as many shot protected birds as during the same time period for the past three years combined.” said Geoffrey Saliba, BirdLife Malta Campaigns Coordinator. “The only difference between this period and the past three spring seasons is a special spring hunting season opened by the government through a derogation”

For more information please contact:

Geoffrey Saliba, BirdLife Malta Campaigns Coordinator on 7905 9501

www.birdlifemalta.org