Wild birds go cuckoo at hunting ban

Date published: 30/04/2008

A threat to silence the distinctive springtime call of the cuckoo may have been lifted, thanks to EU moves to protect the bird from hunters.

Cuckoo numbers in Britain have fallen by around 45% since the 1970’s, and local Euro-MP Chris Davies holds hunters on the island of Malta responsible in part for their demise.
Malta is located on an important bird migration route in the Mediterranean and EU laws prohibit the killing of birds during the crucial spring periods for migration and breeding. Malta agreed to abide by the rules when it joined the EU four years ago but more than a million birds are still estimated to be killed or caught each year as they use the Mediterranean island as a stopover during migrations between Europe and Africa.

The RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) claims that every spring since Malta joined the EU in 2004, the island’s government has allowed its hunters to break the law by shooting wild birds.

But now the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has issued an injuction against Malta prohibiting the start of Spring hunting this year.

Local Euro-MP Chris Davies accepts that hunting is a traditional activity on Malta, but he argues that the consequences are devastating bird numbers elsewhere in Europe.

“This indiscriminate slaughter without thought for the consequences has got to be brought to an end. Malta knew the rules when it applied to join the EU and I want to see these enforced.”

“Brussels is often accused of too much interference, but this is a case where bird lovers in Britain should be insisting on more not less.”

The cuckoo is known for its distinctive call, and for its predatory habit of laying its eggs in the nests of other birds. Estimates put the British cuckoo population in summer at between 13,000 and 26,000 pairs.

Turtle Doves, from one of the most famous Christmas songs, will also be thrown a lifeline by the ECJ ruling.

Other British birds shot in Malta en route to Britain include the gold finch, gannet and short-eared owl.