A European Bee-eater (Qerd in-Naħal) and a European Nightjar (Buqrajq) have become the two latest illegal hunting casualties of 2019 after they were shot down despite the spring hunting season closing last week.

Birdlife Malta recovered the protected birds throughout Sunday. The first, a bee-eater, was found by a member of the public at L-Aħrax in Mellieħa during the morning. It had an injury to the left wing and died on the way to the vet.

Later on during the day, another member of the public found the European Nightjar suffering an injury to the right wing in Kordin.

This follows the illegal shooting of a Black Kite and the Turtle Dove on Saturday.

So far this year, the total of known illegally shot protected birds has now reached 38

Spring hunting, despite the referendum in 2015, remains a hotly contested issue as a few hunters continue to commit illegalities throughout the season.

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Julian Bonnici

Julian is the former editor of Lovin Malta and has a particular interest in politics, the environment, social issues, and human interest stories.