Bird reprieve

The European Commission has welcomed Malta's decision to end its spring hunt early, after the death of 100 buzzards, writes Stephen Mulvey for BBC News:

The protected birds were shot last week as they rested on the island during their migration from Africa to Europe. The EU has threatened Malta with legal action for allowing hunting in spring, before the breeding season. Hunters had been given until 20 May to shoot migrating turtle doves, but the government closed the season early because of attacks on other species. Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said the Commission hoped that Malta's early end to the spring hunt "indicates recognition of their obligations under EU law and that spring hunting in future years will not be permitted"..

Dr Andre Raine of Birdlife Malta said the government had been spurred into action by an incident that demonstrated it could not control the level of illegal hunting. "Five hundred honey buzzards tried to roost but they were systematically hunted down and shot - 100 were shot in the course of an hour or so," he said. The incident occurred a day after an overnight attack on Malta's largest afforestation project. Dr Raine said 3,000 pine saplings, planted as shelter for migrating birds, had been uprooted or chopped in half in one night. Until last week, Malta was the only European Union country which allowed a spring hunt...