BirdLife Malta said today that its teams and members of the public were reporting increasing numbers of illegal hunting incidents to the police as the start of the spring migration brings large influxes of protected birds.

"In three separate incidents at Delimara and Mizieb, BirdLife teams witnessed and reported illegal shooting at protected birds during the closed season. On the 22nd March, over 100 Marsh Harriers roosted in Delimara. BirdLife Malta teams and ALE went to the area to monitor the situation. After nightfall, 25 shots were fired in the vicinity of the roost. The next day another large roost developed at Delimara and several gunshots were again heard after dark by BirdLife teams. Yesterday, 12 Black Kites attempted to roost in the Mizieb area. The birds were shot at as they attempted to roost at dusk. None of the birds were seen leaving the roost site this morning," the society said.

"Illegal hunters are now shooting the protected birds under cover of darkness, as seen with the Black Kites and the harriers," BirdLife Malta's Conservation Manager Andre Raine said in a statement.

BirdLife said it also received five shot protected species during the past week and a half. These included a Hoopoe (picture), a Cory's Shearwater, a Grey Heron and a Purple Heron, which is a species of Conservation Concern in Europe. This morning a shot Marsh Harrier was also brought to BirdLife from Gozo. All incidents were reported to ALE, MEPA and the Office of the Prime Minister.

"It is clear that the resources available to the ALE are insufficient, while the courts continue to give convicted criminals small fines in many cases. Unless the government takes this issue seriously, the problem will repeat itself throughout Malta every spring and autumn" Dr Raine said.

It said it had recorded 72 migratory species since the beginning of March, including raptors and herons, as well as a large flock of Common Crane and a colour-ringed Spoonbill from Italy.