Il National Union of Hunters sent a letter to the Wildlife Hunting Service of theDepartment of Agriculture of the Sicily Region. The topic is that of the hunting cards related to song thrush and woodcock. As recalled by the association, Community law provides that the two species cannot be hunted in the period of pre-nuptial migration. Several scientific studies, however, have hinted that there is no overlap between the hunting season and this period.
In addition, the overlaps have been examined nationally, but in some regions there may be situations where hunting respects the "Birds" Directive. The National Hunters Union knows that to justify an extension of the hunt until 31st January it is necessary to know the number of thrushes and woodcock collections in the same month. An increase in withdrawals in January would show the start of migration, while a decline would be symptomatic of a delay in this beginning.
This is why the data are so important and the Region has been invited to collect them if it has not yet done so. The letter ends with the request to the Department of communicate the data for the 2015-2016 season, in order to propose for the current one and the following ones the shift of the closure of the song thrush and woodcock hunting to 31 January of each year.