Hunters Reportedly Kill Hundreds of Migratory Birds Stranded by Thunderstorm in Malta

A multi-day thunderstorm over the Mediterranean Sea stranded hundreds of migratory birds on the island of Malta on September 14, 2026. Hunters in the country then shot hundreds of those birds, including protected species. BirdLife Malta, a conservation NGO, gathered evidence of the incident. Malta is a key stopover for millions of migratory birds flying from Europe to Africa each year. The strong weather system caused a 'bird fall,' resulting in unusually large concentrations of exhausted birds in specific locations. This made them easier to detect and target by hunters. Malta has the highest density of hunters in Europe, with over 10,000 active at any given time. The hunting of European turtle doves, a threatened species, was particularly concerning, as the quota of 500 birds allowed for the autumn season was reached soon after the storm. Despite the official closure, ongoing hunting was documented by BirdLife Malta.