I am neither here nor there on the matter, but knowing the way journalists and sensationalism tend to go hand in hand could we please have a confirmed count of how many birds this journalist actually saw being shot down, what type they were and if they actually equate to the 80000 odd he was saying were being killed in Malta each day?

Lessons in conflicts of interest:

http://www.huntinginmalta.org.mt/index.pl/about_us

Check out the firm next to Legal Office and then do your math.

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/36255/cyrus-engerer-collects-1-600-signatures-in-favour-of-hunting-20140307

‘….But instead of focusing on identifying and arresting the suspected perpetrator, they were more concerned that the incident was being recorded. A Birdlife staff member was arrested and transferred to the ALE Headquarters for questioning, accompanied by five police officers, Birdlife said.

It said that the arresting officer told a Maltese Birdlife volunteer at the scene of the incident: “You are all faggots, the lot of you” (pufti kollha).

Birdlife said it has a sound recording of the comment and is willing to make it available to the police if they request it.

It called for closer cooperation with the ALE. This was the second time in 10 days that its staff members had to spend time in police custody, Birdlife said….’

I think this sums up Muscat’s Owropa perfectly well. The man is a walking lie.

”Asked why the BLM member was also under investigation, the police commissioner said that BLM illegally keeps protected birds found to be injured by an illegal poacher with the excuse that they would be taking them to a vet.

“It is illegal to be in possession of a protected bird,” he said.

He said that to date, BLM has never presented a certificate issued by a veterinarian related to injured protected birds.”

And BLM’s reaction: “Each case is documented, photographed and reported to the ALE, the Wild Birds Regulation Unit, and the Ministry for Environment, including details of diagnosis and outcome of each case.

“Such measures are taken to ensure a timely and non-bureaucratic intervention for the bird’s welfare, as well as to understand the reasons why various species end up injured in the countryside. Unfortunately most of the cases relate to illegal hunting”

http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-04-22/news/blm-member-police-officer-under-investigation-commissioner-4709449729/

[Daphne – Reports about hunting are not a new phenomenon.]