Songbird Trapping in the Mediterranean: A Welfare Crisis Persisting at Scale

The illegal trapping of migratory songbirds in Mediterranean countries kills or injures millions of birds annually through inhumane methods that cause significant suffering and contribute to population decline.

Key Facts

An estimated 25 million birds are illegally trapped or shot in Mediterranean countries annually according to BirdLife International
Cyprus, Malta, Egypt and Lebanon are identified as major hotspots for illegal songbird trapping and killing
Limestick trapping coats branches with adhesive that captures birds unable to free themselves, often causing wing damage
Clap-net trapping uses call playback to attract birds that are then caught in nets and killed
Ortolan bunting consumption in France was a protected cultural practice involving drowning in Armagnac that persists illegally
Songbird species including blackcaps, robins and chaffinches are consumed as a delicacy in parts of Southern Europe
Conservation organisations including BirdLife International document, advocate and use legal means to reduce illegal trapping

Welfare Considerations

Songbird trapping causes welfare harm on an extraordinary scale. Birds caught on limesticks struggle to free themselves, causing wing fractures and exhaustion before capture and killing. Caught birds experience acute fear and physical injury. The scale of illegal killing — tens of millions of birds annually — represents one of the largest human-caused wildlife welfare disasters in Europe, occurring within EU borders where it is largely illegal but inadequately enforced. Each migrating warbler or thrush that dies in a Mediterranean trapping operation has survived thousands of kilometres of migration only to be caught in an illegal snare. Consumer refusal to purchase illegally trapped birds and strong advocacy for enforcement are the most effective welfare interventions available.

What You Can Do

Refuse to consume birds from illegal trapping operations if offered in southern European destinations
Support BirdLife International campaigns specifically targeting illegal songbird trapping in Mediterranean countries
Contact your MEP about enforcing EU wildlife protection regulations against illegal songbird trapping
Report suspected illegal trapping operations to local wildlife authorities or conservation organisations when travelling
Raise awareness of Mediterranean songbird trapping among travellers who may encounter it without understanding its illegality and welfare impact