Millions of migratory songbirds are illegally trapped and killed annually in Cyprus Malta and other Mediterranean countries, decimating populations during their migrations.
Songbirds caught in limestick and mist net traps face stress and injury during capture and may be kept alive in poor conditions before killing. The scale of mortality across millions of individual birds represents a significant welfare impact during a vulnerable period when migrants are already physiologically stressed from long-distance flight. Mediterranean migration stopover sites should be sanctuaries not killing grounds.