Raptor Protection Autumn 2011 (Malta) - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

BirdLife Malta Raptor Camp 2011

BirdLife Malta have just announced the dates for Raptor Camp 2011 and called for international volunteers to join locals in countering the killing of protected birds in Malta this autumn. This year’s Raptor Camp will be taking place from September 14th to the 2nd of October and bookings are already coming in from international volunteers.

Raptor Camp forms an integral part of BirdLife Malta's campaign against illegal hunting in Malta. Each year, birds of prey and other protected species become the targets of illegal hunters in Malta as they return to Africa for the winter.

The camp serves to both monitor the migration and to maintain a presence in the countryside to document, report and deter illegal hunting. When teams witness illegalities reports are immediately placed with the police and photo and video evidence is collected to help with police investigations.

Species seen during last year's camp included Lesser Spotted Eagle, Eleonora's Falcon, Red Footed Falcon, Eurasian Hobby, Black Kite, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Golden Oriole, Isabelline Wheatear, Purple Heron, Red Rumped Swallow, Turtle Dove, Peregrine Falcon, European Bee-Eater, Honey Buzzard and Pallid Harrier to name just a few.

Every year around 40 volunteers, both local and international are based in a hotel in the North of Malta where they go out in small teams each day to birdwatch and to document and monitor illegal activity. As Joe Cockram, previous BirdLife Malta conservation camp attendee, said “It may at times be tough, but you will have some great birding, meet legendary people, and most of all, play a major part in protecting Europe’s finest birdlife.”

For more details see http://www.birdlifemalta.org/Content/conservation/raptorcamp2011/1109/

Why are we telling you all this? We need more volunteers!