A rare and highly protected Black Stork has allegedly been shot dead outside Buskett, with BirdLife Malta claiming the bird was killed while it and another stork were being filmed by birdwatchers.According to BirdLife Malta, two Black Storks arrived in Malta on Monday afternoon and sought refuge around Buskett after Sunday’s storms brought large numbers of migrating birds to the islands.However, BirdLife said one of the storks was shot down at Xagħra tal-Isqof, just outside Buskett, while birdwatchers were filming the pair.The Black Stork is a rare visitor to Malta and is strictly protected under Maltese law, as well as receiving protection under the EU Birds Directive. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lovin Malta (@lovinmalta)BirdLife claimed such birds are sought after for illegal taxidermy collections, with Head of Conservation Nicholas Barbara arguing that inadequate enforcement continues to leave protected species vulnerable.“Birds like these protected Black Storks are already condemned before they appear, and there is absolutely no political will to change the situation,” Barbara said.The incident follows BirdLife reports of several protected birds being shot following the weekend’s storms, which created a significant bird-fall as migrating species sought shelter in Malta.BirdLife Malta CEO Mark Sultana described what the organisation had witnessed over recent days as “nothing less than a massacre of protected birds”, while strongly criticising what he described as silence from politicians and hunting lobby FKNK.“Their spineless silence is more deafening than the gunshots that have replaced birdsong in our countryside these past days,” Sultana said.BirdLife also believes the second Black Stork may have been killed between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, although this has not been confirmed.The organisation is appealing for anyone with information to come forward and has urged members of the public who witness suspected illegal hunting to report it to police on 119 or BirdLife Malta on 2134 7645.Share to raise awareness!•