Hundreds of Turtle Doves were shot across Malta on Monday after storms over the Mediterranean triggered a major influx of migrating birds, with BirdLife Malta also reporting the shooting and injury of several protected species.According to BirdLife Malta, Sunday’s storms caused a “bird-fall” phenomenon, forcing large numbers of migrating birds to seek shelter on the Maltese Islands as they travelled south towards Africa.Birdwatchers reported sizeable flocks of herons, European Turtle Doves, European Rollers, Golden Orioles and Lesser Kestrels, alongside harriers, buzzards and other birds of prey.However, BirdLife said the influx was accompanied by intense hunting activity, with the organisation receiving numerous calls from members of the public reporting suspected illegal hunting.Among the incidents reported was a Grey Heron which landed within the boundaries of Malta International Airport suffering from shotgun injuries.BirdLife said a flock of more than 150 Little Egrets also came under fire inland from St Thomas Bay, with at least two birds allegedly shot and killed.Other injured birds reportedly spotted across Malta included a European Bee-eater in Wardija, a Night Heron flying out of Miżieb with a dangling leg and a Grey Heron with an injured leg over Marsaskala.The Wild Birds Regulation Unit subsequently closed the autumn hunting season for Turtle Doves after the quota of 500 birds was reportedly reached.However, BirdLife claimed hunting continued after the closure, with one of its teams in Wardija reporting a hunter shooting and collecting a Turtle Dove around an hour after the announcement.By late morning, BirdLife said more than 500 Turtle Doves had gathered within the safety of Buskett bird sanctuary. The organisation claimed birds were being shot at as soon as they flew beyond the protected area.Several flocks of European Rollers were also observed around Buskett during the afternoon. BirdLife reported at least three separate incidents in which Rollers were allegedly shot down at Girgenti and Xagħra tal-Isqof, while another two were photographed flying with serious injuries.BirdLife Malta Head of Conservation Nicholas Barbara criticised what he described as a major imbalance between the scale of hunting and the resources available for enforcement.“We know well that given the chance, hunters will keep shooting at Turtle-doves over the coming weeks,” Barbara said.“Some will regardless keep hunting protected species for illegal trade and taxidermy collections, with such storms increasing this opportunity.”BirdLife is now urging members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspected illegal hunting to police on 119 as well as to the organisation.It also appealed directly to Home Affairs and Security Minister Glenn Bedingfield to increase resources available to the Environmental Protection Unit during periods of particularly heavy bird migration.What do you make of this?•