One of the things I really find repulsive here, is the practice of catching or killing songbirds. Meadowlarks, robins, thrushes and finches. October thru December, when the birds are migrating to Africa, they catch them. This is the season. I am a bird lover. I do notice the lack of songbirds here and I think it is due to this horrible practice. I don’t know how widespread this practice is. I do know it is still very popular in Brescia in Lombardy.
More than five million birds – the highest number of any European nation – are believed to be illegally hunted every year in Italy. Brescia, part of the Lombardy region, is the worst-affected area. There, protected bird species are routinely killed in arcane, brutal traps or snared alive in nets, to be used as decoys. Sometimes, they are simply shot. Based on almost 40 years of operations in the area, it is believed that between 400,000 and one million birds a year are poached in Brescia.
“…32 poachers convicted; 280 birds saved! The largest bird protection camp organized by the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) in Brescia in northern Italy has now come to an end. 38 volunteers from Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Poland and Germany spent five weeks scouring the mountains between Lake Garda and Lake Iseo for trapping sites. They were able to catch and convict 32 poachers together with the police and game wardens. 393 snap traps, 13 small net traps, 63 bow traps, 8 snares, 1 limestick, 76 mist-nets, 23 hunting weapons, around 500 rounds of shotgun ammunition and 316 dead birds were seized from the poachers. 280 birds – mainly thrushes, siskins, chaffinches and bramblings – were released or confiscated as live decoys and taken to rescue centers. All in all, the figures are positive: the number of traps is at an all-time low and the number of active trapping sites and convicted offenders has never been so low. 40 years of operation (our campaigns started in 1984) are clearly having an effect.” Committee Against Bird Slaughter.
You may be asking “what the hell?” Why catch and kill songbirds. I guess primary reason is because it is lucrative and it is hard to be caught. The mafia is heavily into bird slaughter. They also sell finches which are highly sought after because of their beauty and the beauty of their songs. They are sold as captive bred. They are also used as bait to lure other birds to the nets. And in some part it is a tradition in Italy to hunt them and eat them. Stubbornly some Italians don’t think they should have to give up this “delicacy”. Although it is against the law to serve songbirds in Italian restaurants, dishes such as spiedo (spit-roast songbirds), and polenta e osei (polenta with roast songbirds), are still prepared in rural areas of the north.
Disgusting. I realize this is probably not something most people want to hear or see, but it is a fact of life in some rural areas of Italy. Inroads are being made by the group Committee against bird slaughter. I applauded their work. They gather the facts and proof, then let the police finish it. Let’s all hope this horror ends soon.
Phil, well, that’s disgusting. It is definitely illegal. Can you drop a dime on this guy anonymously? I figured it happened here too but didn’t know. They can be so cruel.
Its quite popular in the south of Umbria. Where I walk my dog there is a man with nets and a sound system to attract the birds with particular bird calls. They also tie birds to polls to attract passing migrants. I think it is all illegal under EU law. I read Tesei wants more freedom for hunters.
Absolutely!!
Judith, Glad you took a look. Perhaps a donation. I am donating to them. I wish them great success in stopping this horror.
Thanks for the link to CABS. They have quite a rigorous vetting process to become a volunteer, including pretty steep physical requirements to the point that they state most people over 55 years old have a tough time meeting the requirements! They have a great website — very informative!! Thanks again!
Hi Judith, I grew up feeding birds with my mother. We had a bird book and we would identify them. I used to live in Sterling VA and we fed the birds there as well. They only sing and add beauty to our lives. It’s despicable what they do to animals here. You could reach out to the group I mentioned. Committee Against the Slaughter of Birds. Here’s the link https://www.komitee.de/en/ They have ways to volunteer. Thanks for caring!
Hi Valeria, I would leave the restaurant as well. I hope it does get this knowledge out. People can help the birds as they can. The group I mention is making good progress. They come from all over to catch the people, gather evidence then get the police involved. Yay for them.
Hi Lisa, yes, it seems to be so hard to stop. But the Committee is making progress. Thing is I read about people all along the North African coast and on island all still out up the nets to catch them during migration. Poor birds. 😔 and they only make our world more beautiful. They are nothing but a mouthful.
Hi Matt, I’m sure during hard times they ate birds out of necessity. But this is unconscionable. There’s no need to eat this tiny birds who do nothing but make beautiful music for us to hear. Woodpecker well, yeah. . .
Rose Marie, I’m convinced there are less birds all over Italy due to the practice. But in spring here, we do have birdsong during the nesting season. I don’t see many of these little birds though. I’m in town. Might be more in the Umbrian countryside.
Yes, but people who engage in it are very secretive. So you just don’t realize it’s going on
Thank you so much Nancy for this post! I had no idea this was a practice here in Italy. But we have noticed the paucity of songbirds. We had several feeders where we lived just west of Leesburg, VA, in the states and loved watching them from our kitchen windows. They went through birdseed quickly!! I would love to get involved with any volunteer effort to do away with the killing of songbirds. We’re up in Bergamo Comune so near to Brescia.
I am appalled and disgusted. I had no idea this was a practice, a food delicacy, a thing! its outrageous and if I saw what that photo showed (a plate of tiny birds on a skewer) being served, I think I’d vomit. I know for sure I’d have to get up and leave. Thank you for making those of us reading your blog aware of this truly disturbing issue. Knowledge is power.
O M F G!!!!
Michael and I were just talking about the lack of the pretty little birds we’re used to seeing.
He is of the opinion that the feral cats attack them or drive them away.
I was shocked to see one outside my soggiorno window yesterday.
This newsletter is shocking.
Thx for sharing.
Lisa
Thanks for sharing this, Nancy. I was told the lack of songbirds is due to the extreme poverty years back, when they were a source of food out of necessity. We have a few woodpeckers here in PA I wouldn’t mind being eaten. They make lots of holes in my house!! 😉
This practice is horrifying. Especially the abuse against the Thrush. They have the most precious songs of all. Nancy, I just arrived in Puglia. We are renovating a house. We just retired and will live here full time. I hope this area has more birds than Brescia. We have the Torre Gaucetto Reserve here and I pray the lack of bird song presently is because it’s November, not because the birds have been poached. Thank you for this report. It’s beyond horrible.
Hmmm. I didn’t know about that. I had heard of the practice but didn’t know how prevalent it is here.