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Because of its location in the middle of the Mediterranean, Malta is a mecca for migratory birds. The image above is from the archaeological museum.

Unfortunately for them, birds of all sorts are hunted relentlessly. Most homes have caged songbirds on the walls outside. Like the more rabid hunters in our own country, Maltese hunters react badly when their "sport" is threatened. When fences were put up and no hunting was declared in the land around the temples of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra, hunters defaced the temples.

Here is a disturbing report on how the European Union has condoned these massacres. There is at least one conservation organization in Malta that is trying to do something about this. And here is something you can do.

Hunters' blinds near the temples of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra.

Bird traps. Songbirds are trapped and then used to call in others of their kind. When the king of Spain gave the island of Malta to the knights, all he asked in return was an annual tribute of one falcon. The legendary Maltese falcon is now extinct.

Songbird shopkeeper

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