Malta: Autumn Migration 2012#Raptorcamp

With huge thanks to Birdlife Malta, for both organising raptor camp and the work they do

A total of 48 countries were found to be connected to Malta by ring recoveries

36 European countries 12 African countries

From: Raine A (2007) The international impact of hunting and trapping in the Maltese islands

Quail and Turtle Dove are both legally hunted

According to the FKNK*

• 12,000 hunters• 4000 trappers• 160 sqkm land allowable

for hunting and trapping– 100 hunters / trappers per

square kilometre

*http://www.huntinginmalta.org.mt/index.pl/traditional_hunting_practices

Reality Check for BirdersIn a 14 day period in September, Birdlife Malta volunteers attending Raptorcamp 2012 were witness to:• 227 incidents of hunting outside of specified

allowable hunting times• 76 incidents of hunters shooting at protected species• 135 incidents of illegal bird lures being used• 70+ birds were witnessed in flight with injuries.– 29 Marsh Harriers were seen with injuries– 13 Honey Buzzards were seen with injuries

Courtesy of Joe Cockram

• Avocet• Hoopoe• Great Skua• Turtle Dove • Turtle Dove• Corn Bunting• Lesser Kestrel• European Storm

Petrel• Little Tern• Spotted Crake• Harrier (probable

Pallid)• Marsh Harrier

• Ringtail Harrier - Probable Montague's

• Eleonora's Falcon• White-winged Black

Tern• Little Bittern• Sandwich Tern• Spanish Sparrow• Cuckoo• Kingfisher• Velvet Scoter• Dotterel• Yellow-legged Gull• Northern Shoveller• Kestrel

• Quail• Black Tern• Kittiwake• Rock Thrush• Blackbird• Blackbird• Red-footed Falcon• Caspian Tern• Marsh Harrier• Bee-eater• Bee-eater• Spanish Sparrow• Honey Buzzard• Whinchat

Visithttp://www.birdlifemalta.org/