FKNK officials acquitted of breaching bird-ringing laws

The sentence confirmed a ruling by the Court of Magistrates in November, on police charges initiated at the request of a BirdLife report, the FKNK said.

“BirdLife had alleged that the releasing into the wild of marked birds by FKNK amounted to a breach of bird-ringing regulations,” the FKNK said, referring to a press conference the lobby held in November 20008 where they symbolically put back into the wild
over 100 marked linnets, three marked song thrushes, four marked turtle doves and a marked golden plover.

“The FKNK of its own free will had collected wild birds that had been legally caught by several trappers from all over the islands of Malta and
Gozo. The trappers, who had every right to keep the birds as their possession in captivity, gave the birds of their own free will and against
no payment to the FKNK in the full knowledge that after being marked the birds would be released into the wild.

“BirdLife Malta had found objection to this gesture claiming that this action was illegal and sought legal redress against the FKNK council members,” the FKNK said.

“BirdLife Malta’s interest in holding on to their local privileged bird-ringing monopoly was evident during both Cases’ proceedings through the
presence of their Executive Director, Tolga Temuge who even took the witness stand at one point in time,” Lino Farrugia, the FKNK secretary, said.