ITALY I

Sunday, 28.04.2002

"A short first status report from the 'Komitee gegen den Vogelmord' Bird
Protection Camp in South Italy. At present we have 8 Italian and German
representatives on the island of Ischia; 6 Italians were active on the
island of Ponza at the weekend. To date we have collected a total of 200
traps from both islands. All of the trapped birds were Whinchats
(Saxicola rubetra) with the exception of a single Nightingale (Luscinia
megarhynchos) on Ponza. During the last 2 nights we dismantled and
confiscated 5 electronic bird call devices (worth 150 Euro apiece) all
with Quail (Coturnix coturnix) calls.

This morning, supported by a police unit, we lay in wait for the
hunters. We observed them shooting at flocks of Quail (Coturnix
coturnix), Turtle Doves (Streptopelia turtur) and at individual Marsh
Harriers (Circus aeruginosus). As we attempted to arrest them they fled
through the Macchia and, despite a full-blooded pursuit, we were unable
to catch them. They left behind their 3 shotguns and 100 cartridges.

Migration: yesterday was dull weather with little migration; today it is
sunny with heavy Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) and Turtle Dove
(Streptopelia turtur) migration. Every 10 minutes a Marsh Harrier
(Circus aeruginosus) passes through and the first Bee-eaters (Merops
apiaster) are arriving.

Greetings from Ischia,

Alex Heyd"
www.komitee.de

CYPRUS

Saturday, 27.04.2002

A 5 person strong group of our people (the LAC - Italian Anti-Hunting
League) landed in Cyprus yesterday for the second year of trap
collecting. They are in contact with the Cyprus Conservation Federation
(CCF) and will be closely supported by the other Proact contacts you
gave us. On the first day they were able to collect and destroy about
320 limed sticks and clean 11 birds, unfortunately 2 others were already
dead. They will stay on the island till May 3rd, we'll keep you informed
day by day about the situation. This trip is also partially sponsored by
the Komitee gegen den Vogelmord as well.

Paola Verganti - Proact Italy"
[www.abolizionecaccia.it]

Généralités et Environnement

NEWS ON DIRECT ACTION IN ITALY AND CYPRUS