Wildlife

Wild Migratory Songbird Hunting in Mediterranean Region

Illegal and legal hunting of migratory songbirds in Mediterranean countries causes millions of bird deaths annually.

Key Facts

An estimated 25 million migratory birds are killed annually in the Mediterranean basin
Malta, Cyprus, Egypt and Italy have significant illegal trapping and shooting of songbirds
Songbirds targeted include blackcaps, robins, turtle doves and ortolan buntings
EU Birds Directive bans hunting of protected species but enforcement is inadequate
Conservation organisations monitor and document illegal hunting to support enforcement action

Welfare Considerations

Shooting and trapping migratory songbirds causes acute pain from wounding, prolonged suffering from non-fatal shots, and stress from live trapping. Many birds die slowly from injuries or starvation in traps. The welfare toll on millions of individuals during migration is enormous and largely invisible.

What You Can Do

Support BirdLife Malta, CABS and other organisations campaigning against Mediterranean songbird hunting
Report suspected illegal bird trapping or shooting when travelling in affected regions
Engage with travel operators about the impacts of their destinations on bird hunting
Donate to organisations monitoring and documenting illegal bird killing in Mediterranean countries