by David Lindsay

Malta's countryside is heating up as the autumn hunting season kicks into full swing, and as ornithological organisations move into rural areas to observe the southbound movements of birds of prey as they pass over Malta.

Both ornithologists and hunters claim they are being provoked and intimidated by each other.

Expressing serious concern over the state of affairs yesterday, BirdLife Malta identified three incidents over the last three days in which the organisation has seen the normal verbal harassment coming from hunters escalating to more worrying trends.

Speaking to The Malta Independent yesterday, BirdLife Malta executive director Tolga Temuge was concerned over the way matters appeared to be escalating.

"Over the last two days, opposition to our activities has become markedly more aggressive and this coincides with the FKNK press conference held on Monday," he comments.

He adds, "We will be holding the FKNK administration responsible for any sort of aggression. The FKNK administration should be setting an example by trying to calm the situation down and to respect the rights of third parties."

BirdLife also feels the government should be looking into the increasingly worrying situation, particularly in light of threatening messages posted on the FKNK website earlier this year. BirdLife had prepared an extensive report on the threats, but says that to date, no action had been taken over "the incitement to violence".

Ornithologists taking part in BirdLife Malta's ongoing Raptor Camp - aimed at recording migratory movements of raptors, or birds of prey - on Tuesday experienced two unsavoury incidents.

BirdLife reports one of its Raptor Camp teams were verbally harassed, with extremely insulting language, at Gharghur. While such incidents appear to be a daily occurrence, matters appeared to have escalated as when the birdwatchers returned they found the area around their cars strewn with broken glass and tacks.

Another BirdLife team observing migratory movements at Laferla Cross at Siggiewi found a previously clear access road blocked by large blocks of stone when they attempted to return after a day's work. On finding the road unexpectedly blocked, the team spotted a suspicious individual watching the team from afar, who fled when he realised he had been spotted.

The police were informed of both incidents.

On Monday, another team working at Nadur, Gozo arrived at their habitual observation spot similarly riddled with broken glass _ necessitating a lengthy clean-up of the area before the ornithologists' posts could be taken.

In the meantime, two foreign birdwatchers forming part of the Committee against Bird Slaughter (CABS) activities in Malta - completely separate from those of BirdLife Malta - were slightly injured by stray pellets yesterday morning.

The police are investigating the accident, which occurred at around 7am yesterday morning.

When the two foreign birdwatchers were struck by the stray pellets they were apparently crouched behind a wall on public land some 100 to 150 metres from where a hunter had been eyeing his quarry.

Police sources yesterday confirmed the injuries were of a very slight nature and that the police were handling the case as an accident.

The Federazzjoni Kaccaturi Nassaba Konservazzjonisti (FKNK) has over the past days taken exception to the presence of foreign birdwatchers who have descended upon Malta this autumn to observe the spectacular migration of birds of prey as they head south to Africa for the winter.

CABS members and their modus operandi have come in for particular disdain from the FKNK.

Referring to the accident, the FKNK yesterday described CABS volunteers as spying on Maltese hunters and trappers. Such individuals were not tourists, but rather mercenaries, the FKNK said, adding that rumours the birdwatchers had been intentionally shot began to immediately surface.

The FKNK on its part says its members have also fallen victim to provocation and interference from birdwatchers - incidents that have also been reported to the police.

The FKNK also called on the police to take action against foreign birdwatchers in light of the fact that they had protected species in their possession - a contravention of Maltese law.

The hunters' body also said it would hold Environment Minister George Pullicino, Nature Trust, International Animal Rescue Malta and the "Maltese directors of BirdLife Malta" fully responsible for any incident caused by "foreigners".