Demand an end to the slaughter of millions of migratory birds on Malta!

According to reports, Packham was questioned in the capital Valetta after filming hunters for his website, but the hunters claimed the footage he shot had ‘breached their privacy.’

The development is being seen as a remarkable blunder for the Maltese government which has endured severe international criticism for failing to clamp down on bird trapping and hunting.

It is estimated that each year that three million birds are shot or trapped on Malta while migrating between Africa and Europe in the spring and autumn.

Birdlife Malta say that hunters, poachers, trappers and animal traders represent a severe threat to birds along the whole of their migration routes.

The sounds of birds tweeting in Malta is becoming less and less frequent and the problem of illegal hunting continues to tarnish Malta's reputation in Europe.

Five years ago the European Court of Justice ordered the Maltese government to ban spring hunting, but the practice appears to continue unabated.

Enforcement is poor and political will to act against the hunters is weak.

The situation in Malta has prompted many animal rights groups to call for a tourism boycott of the island.

Last month Prince Charles expressed his anger at a similar situation in Cyprus by demanding that urgent action be taken to stop the annual ‘barbaric slaughter’ of half a million migrating songbirds in British Sovereign Areas of Cyprus.

His letter to Major-General Richard Cripwell, Commander of British Forces in Cyprus was copied to President Nicos Anastasiades.

It is estimated that during the 2013 trapping season, 1.5 million birds were killed across Cyprus. The birds are killed and sold to restaurants for the illegal but widely available Cypriot delicacy ambelopoulia.