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 12,000 hunters FKNK* 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 Birders

In 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

Visit http://www.birdlifemalta.org/