Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Optics for Malta

As most readers of this Blog will know local birders and conservationists have spent the winter raising funds to purchase optics to be presented to the police authorities on Malta to assist in their surveillance of illegal hunting on the island. Malta is well known as a hunting blackspot and as it lies on a main migration route for birds moving between Europe and Africa the impact of the hunting activities of somewhere in the region of 17000 registered gun owners (on what is a relatively small island) has ramifications for populations of birds conserved elsewhere in Europe. This year Birdlife Malta has launched "Spring Watch Malta" a conservation camp forming an integral part of BirdLife Malta’s fight against illegal spring hunting. Four local birders leave tomorrow to assist with the camps efforts and whilst there will present the optics to Birdlife Malta/ALE (local police).

I want to thank all those people who have contributed to the Optics Fund over the winter and to let everyone know that we will be presenting a total of 12 pairs of binoculars and four telescopes and tripods, an excellent achievement by everyone concerned. On our return we hope to have photos of the presentation.

For more info on the Maltese hunting issue go to http://www.birdlifemalta.org/

2 comments:

Goldon Gordon said...

My congratulations to all who helped raise this magnificent contributionto the cause of helping wildlife. The Halifax Birdwatchers Club should be very proud of the contribution it has made to wildife conservation locally and internationally. Birding is not all about bagging rarites and ticking lists and this club has shown that its heart as well as its head is in the right place. I am very proud to be associated with such a fine bunch of people. I will not miss much when I leave Calderdale for Wales but this club and its members will be sadly missed by Sue and I.

Andrew Huyton said...

Good luck guys, keep your heads down because I think it could be very interesting this time out. Sorry I couldn't be with you.