Songbird Hunting and Poaching in Southern Europe

[Axel Hildebrandt]

There is a pretty depressing article about the topic in the current New Yorker. If you don't have a subscription, here is the abstract: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/07/26/100726fa_fact_franzen

Here is an audio interview with the author: http://www.newyorker.com/online/2010/07/26/100726on_audio_franzen

[John Chardine]

Thanks Axel. I experienced this first-hand in Crete (Greece) where I had much trouble approaching even the commonest of species to make an image. Manos P. (BPN moderator) mentioned to me how difficult it is to approach birds there because of hunting. Must be the same elsewhere. There are various conventions and and the EU Birds Directive that provide the basis for a sound protection system but the enforcement part of the puzzle seems to be missing. Clearly education is needed as well to change people's attitudes to wildlife and their consumptive use.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

It sounds as if one can only hope that younger people stop doing this eventually.