Goldfinch and Songbird Trapping in Southern Europe

Illegal trapping of songbirds for the cage bird trade and food continues across Mediterranean countries, with goldfinches, siskins, and other species taken in large numbers despite EU protection.

Key Facts

Illegal bird trapping is estimated to kill 25-120 million birds across Mediterranean countries annually
Cyprus, Malta, and Italy are hotspots for illegal trapping using nets, lime sticks, and electronic callers
Goldfinches are among the most targeted species for the cage bird trade in southern Europe
BirdLife International coordinates monitoring and enforcement campaigns across the region
Lime sticks trap birds by adhesive coating on branches - immobilisation causes injury and stress
Legal trapping loopholes in some countries allow millions of birds to be taken annually

Welfare Considerations

Songbird trapping causes both acute and prolonged welfare harm. Lime stick trapping leaves birds struggling against adhesive - feather damage, wing dislocation, and exhaustion are common. Net trapping causes injuries from entanglement. Birds held in capture conditions before sale or slaughter experience chronic stress. The scale of the practice - tens of millions of birds - makes it one of the largest sources of direct wild bird welfare harm in Europe. Migration creates particular vulnerability - birds exhausted from crossing the Mediterranean encounter dense trapping networks on landfall.

What You Can Do

Support BirdLife International's illegal bird trapping monitoring and enforcement campaigns
Raise awareness of songbird trapping with tour operators working in affected regions
Never purchase cage birds of unclear origin that may be wild-caught
Advocate for EU enforcement action against member states with persistent trapping problems
Report suspected illegal trapping to local wildlife authorities when travelling