Rare spoonbill killed

The police are to arraign a number of people following the slaughter of a rare spoonbill at Salina late last Sunday afternoon, BirdLife Malta said yesterday.

The organisation said it understood that they would be charged with illegal hunting practices.

The incident happened at around 7 p.m. when members of the public relaxing at Kennedy Grove were startled by the sudden sound of gunshot as the bird, a large white wader (similar to the one pictured) appeared flying overhead.

Two hunters allegedly shot at the bird from a road near Kennedy Grove, and then drove at full speed into a residential area where they last saw the bird.

Around 70 residents of the area came rushing out of their houses wondering what the commotion was all about, to see a man picking up the mortally wounded bird.

Two men almost drove over a woman carrying a baby in their haste to retrieve the bird, but after some hot arguments with the locals, drove away empty-handed as some people were heard shouting they had taken note of the registration number.

The bird, by now lifeless, was taken to Qawra police station where a report was lodged and information relating to the case passed on to the police.

The spoonbill (paletta) is a white, heron-like bird about 85 cm long with a wingspan of about 1.2 metres. It derives its name from its characteristic long black spoon shaped bill.

A protected migratory bird, it inhabits lowland coastal wetlands and nests colonially in reedbeds, bushes or trees. Its diet consists of small fish, insects and other small aquatic animals.

Hunting is forbidden on Sundays after 1 p.m. and the Salina area is also a protected area.