BirdLife documents 21 protected birds shot within a week

BirdLife Malta said its teams and police recovered or documented 21 protected birds between 14 and 21 September after the previous week’s storm. The species included grey and purple herons, turtle doves, golden orioles, European rollers, hoopoes, common kestrels, marsh harriers and a night heron. Reports came from localities across Malta and Gozo, including Kalkara, Żabbar, Marsaskala, Ta’ Ċenċ and Xemxija. BirdLife said a purple heron from Kalkara had a gunshot-broken wing and questioned how many other cases remained undetected. It urged debate over whether current penalties sufficiently deter illegal killing; no reduced penalties have been adopted.