Postcards from malta
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Presentation given on 16th April to Scarborough Birders
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Postcards from malta
- 1. Postcards from Malta: birds, bullets and the fight for conservation Lawrie Phipps With thanks to the following Andrew Morgan, Steve Millar, Bob Hook, Joe Cochran, Bob Elliot, Ian Thomson, Nik Barbara, Nimrod Mifsud, Andre Raine, Geoff Saliba, Ole Friis Larsen, Har Pluijmakers, Marianne Leenders, Adam Denyer, Lizzie Bruce, Genevieve Bridgeman, Robin Potts, Terry Williams, Andrea Hudspeth, Fiona Burrows, Rupert Masfield and all of the staff and volunteers from Spring Watch and Raptor Camp
- 2. 75 km to Sicily 316 km to Africa 316 km2 Population c. 440,000 Proud heritage with own language Malta joined EU in 2004
- 3. Three main migration routes: Malta sits on the Central European-Africa Migration Flyway
- 5. 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
- 23. Two watches every day – DAWN and DUSK • Teams of 3-5 volunteers • Assigned to one of 50+ watch points • Some sites require our security team • Drive for up to 30 minutes
- 24. A visual deterrent Observe and Record migratory birds Observe and Record illegal activities Public relations exercise
- 25. Working closely with local law enforcement
- 26. 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
- 27. Natalino Fenech Fatal Flight: Maltese Obsession with Killing Birds • 3 million finches • > half a million thrushes • > half a million swallows • 80,000 golden orioles • 18,000 shearwaters • 50,000 birds of prey Written in the 1980’s But then Malta joined the EU….
- 28. DEROGATIONS Used by the government to violate EU Laws (Birds Directive) Malta applies two derogations (exemptions) to EU conservation legislation Allowing Maltese hunters to: 1. kill birds during the spring migration 2. trap protected bird species In June 2012 the European Commission pressed Malta to put an end to the derogation that allowed the trapping of the threatened Song Thrush in 2011. However, in the autumn of 2012, the trapping of the Song Thrush was allowed and in 2013 the Golden Plover was added.
- 29. Quail and turtle dove are both hunted legally, as are 41 other species including water rail, golden plover, ruff, woodcock, song thrush…
- 30. The Birdlife monitors are not universally welcomed
- 31. What are we looking for in the field?
- 38. Mizieb Managed by the FKNK for shooting and conversation
- 39. More than 200 corpses
- 45. • 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
- 46. 24 hours in Malta: Personal Experience
- 47. It started with breakfast, 3 October 2012
- 50. At around this time…
- 51. All night watch on the Flamingo
- 52. 04:00 Start to watch the quarry
- 58. Geoff Saliba, President of Birdlife Malta with Lawrie On Ilkly moor But Lawrie, where are all the Hen Harriers?
- 59. Write to your MEP about the issue – more info at http://www.birdlifemalta.org/ Also keep on eye on BAWC page on FB and the website for future campaign activities
- 60. Thanks for allowing me to come and talk @lawrie
Editor's Notes
- There are two watches per day, Dawn and Dusk The morning watch sets out by 5.15am to be on site for dawn and the afternoon watch sets out around 2.30pm and will stay until it gets dark Team Leader, driver, identifier, spotter, recorder Some locations are known trouble spots and security will be sent aswell There will be up to 15 teams sent out In addition there may be night watches when there is a large roost to be protected.
- BLM now has a better relationship with the police, and volunteers use good equipment (bins, scopes and video cameras) we are an effective deterrent during the two weeks of each campaign. Usually the hunters will choose not to hunt in areas being surveyed. The campaign teams are high profile in T-shirts and help raise public awareness and usually get a positive response. BLM holds a news conference each camp and BLM gets very good coverage from most of the papers. The Times of Malta tends to be less enthusiastic. PR talking to the public.