This bird, a protected Grey Heron, crashed into the porch of a house in Bugibba at 7.45 this morning.

The  bird had a broken leg and a gunshot wound under one of its wings.

The police are investigating the case.

The government on Saturday closed the autumn hunting season until October 10 because of regular shooting of protected birds. Hunters' associations condemned the decision as unfair collective punishment.

A group of some 200 hunters held a rowdy unofficial protest in Valletta yesterday afternoon and a group of some 30 clashed with birdwatchers in Buskett, throwing stones at them. An elderly birdwatcher was assaulted and suffered facial injuries. His camera was stolen.

mynews@timesofmalta.com

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