“As a result of the massive scale of birds shot in the past two weeks part of the group have volunteered to stay on and have taken extra unpaid leave from their jobs” the CABS president Heinz Schwarze said.

In the past weeks 24 CABS activists have registered 257 offences against hunting regulations, including 45 directly observed shooting down/injuring and 97 attempted shooting of protected birds, 30 offences involving the use of illegal electronic lures, 83 breaches of the afternoon hunting curfew and 2 offences related to illegal trapping.

“The huge numbers of bird of prey shootings is alarming in the utmost. Each of our 6 teams was only able to intensively monitor an area of some 2 square kilometres daily. The shooting down of birds outside these areas, or hidden from our sight behind trees, bushes, rocks and buildings, could not be recorded. We therefore believe that in the weeks, despite our presence, thousands of protected migrant species have been killed on Malta” says Schwarze.

“Every attempt to play down these alarming figures is simply glossing over the seriousness of the matter. The majority of the Maltese public is quite aware that illegal hunting is a widespread problem that must be combated to a far greater extent than is the case to date.”

Among the shot down birds recorded by the conservationists are numerous endangered species such as Marsh Harriers, Eleonora’s Falcon, Honey Buzzards, waders and Black Storks.

The situation is especially critical for the highly endangered Lesser Spotted Eagle, 8 of which (amounting to 5 % of the German population) have used Malta as a stepping stone to Africa in the past 10 days.

“Each bird will be monitored as closely as the situation permits - and if necessary we will put on a close protection team over night” promised CABS Operations Officer David Conlin.