Watch: ‘Why This Hatred?’ – FKNK Head Says There Is No Difference Between Trappers And Bird Ringers
FKNK CEO Lucas Micallef is arguing that there is no fundamental difference between trappers and bird ringers, other than that trappers are subjected to far more stringent restrictions.
In a video published by FKNK, Micallef showed footage of bird ringing – which BirdLife Malta is licensed to carry out – and bird trapping.
“Both processes use the same material, and the only difference is that a trapper’s net is manual and selective so they can catch the birds they want while mist nets catch every bird that passes through it,” he said.
“Also, trappers immediately release the birds they catch, while birds caught in mist nets can sometimes stay there for a long time.”
Micallef also argued that while trappers are only allowed to trap seven species of songbirds for two months a year at registered times and locations, bird ringers are allowed to operate all year round without such restrictions.
He insisted that trappers, just like bird ringers, carry out research on the birds they trap.
“Trappers check whether the birds they catch have been ringed, take note of this and eventually release them into the wild. Bird ringers trap the birds, measure and weigh them, ring them, and release them. Both also use live bird callers, but while bird ringers can use whichever birds they want, trappers can only use one of those seven species, and these are only kept in slightly smaller cages for the duration of the research period.”
Micallef concluded his video by posing two questions – “what is the difference between a trapper and a bird ringer?” and “why has all this hatred been fomented against our Maltese brethren?”.
Do you agree with Lucas Micallef’s message?
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