Birdlife objects to FKNK bird ringing

The hunters' federation (FKNK) said today that it was being threatened with legal action by Birdlife after it ringed birds which it released after captivity.

The federation explained that it a dossier it had presented to the Prime Minister and to the Leader of the Opposition it had argued for the continuation of the traditional of capturing wild birds using nets, basing its claims on compensatory measures.

After a recent press conference in Buskett it released over 100 marked linnets, three marked song thrushes, four marked turtle doves and a marked golden plover. The FKNK also donated a further 28 marked linnets and two marked serins to the Government Ghammieri Captive Breeding Project a week later. The birds were collected from several trappers who had caught them legally.

The FKNK said it had wanted to put some form of identification on the birds before release and the most adequate, practical and convenient manner was to ring them. The appropriate iodized split rings were ordered and bought from a reputable company in Scotland that also supplied licensed bird-ringers around the world. The proper tools to put on the rings were also ordered from a similar reputable company in the UK.

The FKNK said BirdLife Malta had objected to this "gesture" claiming that this action was illegal, the FKNK said, adding that the society intended to seek legal redress against the FKNK council members.

In a reaction, BirdLife Malta said it informed the authorities last Deceember that FKNK's bird ringing activities were illegal, and it expected action by the authoirties.

It said that scientific bird ringing is a strictly monitored activity under national and international law. Bird ringers need to have a licence issued by both the police and MEPA and use standard rings authorised by the Director of MEPA. Scientific bird ringing in Malta is administered by BirdLife Malta, as the national representative of the EURING (European Union for Bird Ringing), under license from MEPA.

Birdlife Malta said it was once again demanded that the Maltese authorities enforce nature conservation laws and make it clear to those who do not comply with national and international regulations that the government will not tolerate these illegal activities.