Hobby hunters illegally kill 25 million birds in Southern Europe

Rare and beautiful birds are illegally shot or caught for fun by wildlife killers, before being plucked, skinned and eaten — or simply discarded.

From the lawless wastelands of war-torn Syria to the cypress-lined fields of Italy, countless birds are being killed.

In Southern Europe and North Africa, birds are dying at a rate that is pushing endangered species to the brink of extinction.

A study by BirdLife International provides a breakdown of killings by country, identifying the worst offenders and highlighting the most affected species.

Italy is one of the worst offenders along the major migration route between Africa and Eurasia. The most severe case, however, is Egypt, where 5.7 million birds are illegally killed every year. Syria and Lebanon follow, with 3.9 million and 2.6 million birds killed respectively.

Cyprus has a death toll of 2.3 million birds; Greece 704’000; France, Croatia and Libya each around 500’000; and Albania 265’000. Alongside our robin, chaffinches, blackcaps, quails, song thrushes, calandra larks and skylarks are the species suffering the greatest losses.

Tim Stowe, International Director of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, added: «The illegal killing of millions of birds in the Mediterranean region highlighted in this report is a source of ongoing shame. It is time for measures to be taken to end the killings, particularly in the European Union, where nature laws should enshrine protection for vulnerable species.»

With proper implementation and enforcement of the laws, EU Bird Protection Directives would provide the necessary protection for a range of birds and reduce unnecessary illegal killing and cruelty to animals .

«This year, positive steps have been taken to reduce the number of birds illegally killed in areas such as the British territory of Dhekelia in Cyprus. Now we must put pressure on the rest of the EU to follow this example and ensure safer flight paths for birds migrating between continents.»

Tim Stowe

The Committee Against Bird Slaughter regularly conducts bird migration camps in Italy, France, Spain, Cyprus, and Malta, confiscating tens of thousands of illegal traps and nets. Working together with police units and conservationists, hundreds of poachers are caught in the act every year.

Egypt

In Egypt, an estimated 5.7 million birds are illegally killed every year, making it the most dangerous place for migratory birds in the Mediterranean region. Indiscriminate hunting has become commonplace for a large number of migratory bird species, which are caught as illegal bycatch during the legal trapping of quail.

House sparrows, coots, lesser grey shrikes, and Eurasian golden orioles are illegally killed in large numbers.

Italy

In Italy, an estimated 5.6 million birds are illegally killed every year. In the Brescia Alps, birds fly into tension snares, where many die of thirst or exhaustion.

Migratory birds caught in nets are sometimes used to lure other birds: they are kept in darkness and only released into daylight in autumn. This causes them to mistake it for spring and sing, thereby luring even more birds into the traps.

Birds hunted in the Sulcis region are sold at high prices to restaurants and other private traders for consumption. In Italy, many chaffinches, meadow pipits, and song thrushes are killed.

Syria

Syria lies on the second most important bird migration route in the world, which poses a serious problem given the lack of enforcement of hunting laws in the country, making it an ideal location for hobby hunters from across the region.

Modern hobby hunting has always been a traditional and foolish pastime for men. However, it has now become extremely widespread and indiscriminate. Wildlife populations in Syria have generally declined sharply.

There is a hunting ban in the country, but the lack of enforcement has given rise to a new generation of amateur hunters who lack basic hunting skills and ethics.

Rather than being a problem in specific areas, the illegal killing of birds is a nationwide issue. Blackcaps, whitethroats, and larks are illegally killed in large numbers or sold in markets. Others are caught to be kept as caged pets or, in many cases, killed for fun.

Lebanon

Lebanon lies on the same important migration route as Syria and is a strategic location for migratory birds. Unfortunately, widespread problems with the illegal killing of birds exist there on a national scale as well.

Normalised within society, illegal shooting and trapping in Lebanon has become an extremely popular pastime. As a result, the average number of birds illegally killed in Lebanon is estimated at more than 2’600’000 per year.

Cyprus

The Famagusta district in Cyprus is considered the worst in the Mediterranean region, as measured by the average estimated number of birds illegally killed per year.

Geographically, Cyprus is an important stopover for many migratory birds on their route across the sea. Unfortunately, birds tend to concentrate in certain parts of the island when they depart or arrive during migration, which makes the task easier for those who kill illegally.

Laws prohibiting trapping have been in place since 1974, but these are frequently disregarded. Audio devices are illegally used to broadcast birdsong and lure birds to specific trapping sites.

Many birds are illegally sold as “delicacies” for consumption, particularly blackcaps, song thrushes, and whitethroats.

Greece

The estimated average number of illegally killed birds in Greece exceeds 704’000 per year. On average, more than five birds per square kilometre are illegally killed each year. Currently, 32% of the 345 bird species studied in Greece are being illegally killed in significant numbers.

Greece is among the three worst countries for the illegal killing of European turtle doves. In addition, European goldfinch, European serin, European greenfinch, and greater short-toed lark are caught in large numbers and illegally sold as cage birds. Greece is also among the three largest countries where the Dalmatian pelican is illegally killed.

France

In France, an estimated 149’000 to 895’000 birds are illegally killed each year.

In the name of tradition, birds are illegally trapped in many regions and numerous non-target species are killed as bycatch. Trapping is the most common form of illegal bird killing in France.

Of the 349 bird species studied in France, around 32% are illegally killed in significant numbers. Eurasian chaffinch, robin, and ortolan bunting are killed in large numbers. The ortolan bunting is considered an expensive “delicacy”, and for centuries it was an initiation ritual for French gourmets to eat this bird. Despite its illegality, the trapping of the species is tolerated.

Croatia

In Croatia, the average number of illegally killed birds is estimated at more than 500’000 per year, with nearly ten birds per square kilometre killed annually.

Of the 306 bird species studied in Croatia, around 32% are illegally killed in significant numbers. Illegal killing in Croatia is found to have a strong impact on the Eurasian coot. The country is among the three countries in the region where illegal killing of this species is most severe.

One of the main problems is the use of illegal methods during the open season. For example, common quail and waterfowl are illegally killed using adhesive tape lures.

Libya

According to estimates, around half a million birds are illegally killed in Libya each year. Among Mediterranean countries, Libya is currently the only country without a legal framework regulating hunting and trapping and preventing illegal killing.

Regarding the number of the 266 bird species surveyed in Libya, it was reported that 23% are illegally killed in significant numbers. The country is among the three worst offenders for killing the African Houbara, which is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

Albania

The average number of individual birds illegally killed in Albania is 265’000 per year. This is far fewer than the nine countries above it on the list, but still enough for the Balkan nation to make it into the top ten countries.

Despite the lower overall numbers, the average number of individual birds illegally killed is estimated at more than nine per square kilometre per year. Of the 296 bird species surveyed in Albania, around 32% are illegally killed in significant numbers. The Eurasian skylark and the Eurasian blackbird are illegally shot, and the European goldfinch is trapped in large numbers.