News:
Project of the Month April 2026

Only by working together will we succeed in putting an end to illegal spring bird trapping on Cyprus and the strictly prohibited spring bird hunting on Zakynthos!

For many years, our experienced bird conservationists from the Committee Against Bird Slaughter and our Foundation have been working in Cyprus with great personal dedication to protect the migratory birds that stop over here in spring on their migration. Even after 15 years, this gruelling work to rescue migratory birds in Cyprus remains demanding and challenging.

Autumn bird migration remains a highly profitable business for some of the ‘big players’ in the bird-killing trade. And in the autumn, numerous small-scale bird poachers continue to engage in this activity.

An encouraging trend is now emerging in Cyprus this spring: the number of active bird-trapping sites and the number of limesticks in use are falling steadily and significantly. This is a testament to the success of our many years of consistent conservation work and our ongoing on-the-ground presence.

That does not mean, however, that our bird conservationists in Cyprus are sitting back and enjoying the spring sunshine. If bird trapping remains at a low level in Cyprus this spring as well, some of the conservationists will also have to deal with the illegal hunting activities of ruthless Greek poachers on the island of Zakynthos.

Last year, the situation there became particularly tense: in addition to verbal abuse, conservationists from the Committee Against Bird Slaughter were also physically attacked.

Despite these painful experiences, we are continuing our Zakynthos missions with unwavering commitment – with thorough preparation, high-quality equipment and firm determination. The results of the 2025 spring bird conservation camp operation there show that this effort is worthwhile for our migratory birds and is having a tangible impact.

• 38 active bird hunting sites identified and monitored
• 3 hunters fled when our response teams arrived, leaving their weapons and hunting equipment behind
• a further three hunters fled when the police arrived
• Criminal charges were lodged against 13 bird hunters, supported by video evidence
• A total of 19 hunters operating illegally were reported to the authorities
• 3 weapons, 180 rounds of ammunition and one illegal electronic bird-call decoy device were seized by the police

This spring, several teams will once again be working on Zakynthos. The focus will be on well-known bird-hunting hotspots such as the Keri Peninsula and other areas where hunting is particularly intense. We will continue to step up our monitoring efforts, thereby significantly increasing the legal risks for illegally operating bird hunters.

We are currently short of around €23,500 to cover the operational costs of the two spring bird conservation camps, necessary repairs to our operational vehicles, and the replacement of essential equipment.

Please support us with your donation.

Whether 20, 30, or 50 euros – or any other amount – your generous donation will help us equip our field teams to properly and effectively protect migratory birds during the spring migration on Cyprus and Zakynthos.

Our heartfelt thanks for your support!