Aerial photos of Ta' Ċenċ taken last Friday show at least 12 bird trapping sites, equipped with illegally-built stone huts and a number of unidentifiable people in the act, according to Birdlife.
These findings contradict the environmental impact assessment report that the Ta' Ċenċ developers sent to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to extend the hotel to include a heritage park.
Birdlife has called on Mepa to investigate further, arguing that trapping in this instance is against the law because the vegetation must be destroyed through burning or the use of herbicides to clear the land.
Mepa recently designated Ta' Ċenċ as a special protection area (SPA) under the EU Birds Directive, and a special area of conservation (SAC) under the habitats directive, as part of the Europe-wide nature conservation network Natura 2000.
When contacted, the owner of the 156-hectare Ta' Ċenċ plateau, Victor Borg, said he was not prepared to comment, but made it clear that hunting and trapping on his property were strictly forbidden as indicated by a large sign at the entrance.
He added that he had done everything within his power to rid the land of over 300 hunters and trappers since 1999, before the EU imposed strict regulations to do so.
Mr Borg owns the Ta' Ċenċ hotel and has been trying to extend it to include a heritage park, villas and a golf course for a number of years. Mepa had refused his permit application after pressure-groups challenged the plans.
A spokesman for Birdlife said that when Mr Borg had proposed the extension to his hotel, he had presented an environmental impact assessment report which clearly stated that hunting and trapping were harmful to the area and had therefore been stopped.
The report stated: "The now terminated practice of hunting and trapping has been harmful to (the nature present) in the Ta' Ċenċ area as a whole. "The construction of bird traps and hides damages the garigue by disturbing the surface and the vegetation.
"In some cases, the integrity of archaeological sites has been compromised and structures damaged."
The spokesman said this report was sent to the Mepa board and should therefore be accurate.
"The problem is that on several occasions (Mr Borg) said that he did not allow trapping... but our surveillance proves the contrary," Birdlife said.
"If Mr Borg wants to establish a constructive relationship with NGOs and other parties... he cannot claim one thing in the report and then admit that he has no idea what is happening at Ta' Ċenċ."