Foreign bird bellman’s license suspended for involvement in Maltese finch hunting

The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) has canceled the ringtone of a man in Malta following complaints that he would be involved in finch hunting activities.

In a statement on Monday, the BTO said the person in question, an Irishman with a BTO-issued ringing permit, was not currently ringing in Malta after BirdLife Malta, the coordinators of the national ringing scheme, refused to give him a ring. .

This development comes next. Federazzjoni Kaċċaturi Nassaba Çözümvazzjonisti (FKNK) accused BirdLife Malta of refusing to cooperate with the researcher conducting bird ringing studies in Malta.

“We have serious concerns that because the individual in question holds a search warrant issued by BTO’s Licensing Team, third parties may incorrectly assume that field work undertaken by this individual is associated with and therefore supported by BTO. “We therefore consider this ringer’s actions to pose a significant reputational risk to BTO and the presentation of our scientific and charitable work.”

BTO also referred to the European Court of Justice decree Ruling ruling that it was illegal for Malta to violate the bird hunting ban. Despite the decision, government reopens finch trapping season a month later.

In addition, BTO plans to issue a public statement condemning the finch hunting initiative in Malta as inconsistent with legitimate scientific objectives. BTO will also warn all permit holders that participation in such projects, especially those without a clear legal or scientific basis, may result in sanctions.