Bird Camp Diary Italy 2007
 Up to date daily reports on the CABS large scale migrant bird protection camp in Brescia, Northern Italy will be published here from the end of September to the beginning of December 2007.
Here you will be informed how many traps and nets we have located and removed, how many poachers have been caught and how many live bird decoys could be given their freedom.
All the camps and operations are financed from the CABS budget and with the generous support of the Karl Kaus Foundation for Wildlife and Nature.
If you able to support us financially please make a donation towards our international nature and wildlife protection work.
Final Results Autumn 2007
  | No. of bow traps collected: 1,280 |
| No. of other traps collected: 450 |
| No. of snares collected: 16,435 |
| No. of nets collected: 238 |
| Live decoys confiscated: 124 |
| No. of weapons confiscated: 41 |
| No. of poachers caught: 36 |
| No. of charges filed against hunters: 49 |
A comparison: In only two and a half weeks in 2001 we found 12,104 bow traps. Last year the total was only 1,436.
Saturday, 08.12.2007
END OF BIRD PROTECTION OPERATIONS FOR AUTUMN 2007
As our bird protection camp on Sardinia comes to an end this Saturday it marks the end of our operations in Italy for this year.
During the past week the 10 activists who took part have located and removed a total of 9,935 horsehair song bird snares and some 3 dozen wire snares for trapping of foxes, wild boar and deer.
Friday, 07.12.2007
The 9 activists participating in ther bird protection camp, deployed today in the hills to the north of the provincial capital Cagliari, found and removed 2,140 horsehair snares and 5 wire snares for wild boar.
Thursday, 06.12.2007
With the best possible autumn weather 11 activists were today deployed on operations in the South Sardinian mountains. A total of 2,580 horsehair snares and 12 wire snares for wild boar were found and removed.
Wednesday, 05.12.2007
Today saw a major success for the participants in the Sardinian bird protection camp. In the Montana parish a huge net trapping site with 98 nets was found. The fine mesh construction, of almost 1.5 km in length, was probably set up by a gang of poachers and disfigured a complete mountain ridge and migrating birds would have been caught in vast numbers.
In addition the German and Italian activists removed a total of 2,200 horsehair snares.
Tuesday, 04.12.2007
The 9 activists were deployed in three teams today and located and dismantled a total of 1,400 horsehair snares. Four Song Thrushes, 3 Robins and a Chaffinch were found dead in the snares.
One of the trapping lines was pointed out to us by a goatherd whose flock had constantly been caught up in the wire snares put out for foxes.
In contrast to previous years all has been relatively quiet without any contretemps with poachers - up until now we have not been subjected to any verbal abuse at all this year.
Monday, 03.12.2007
Nine activists were deployed on operations in the south Sardinian mountains today. They located and dismantled 955 song bird snares and 6 wire fox snares. Six dead Song Thrushes were found in the traps.
Sunday, 02.12.2007
This was the first day proper of the Sardinian bird protection camp with spring-like weather. The 10 activists operated today in the mountains north of the provincial capital Cagliari and found and destroyed 260 illegal horsehair snares for trapping of song birds. In addition 8 wire snares for wild boar were found and removed.
The LAC team witnessed the shooting of a Sardinian Red Deer (Cervus elapus corsicanus), an endangered sub-species of the Red Deer (Bern Convention, EU Habitats & Species Directive Annexes II & IV and IUCN Red List - Endangered). One of the 2 poachers observed was apprehended due to swift intervention by the forest police.
Saturday, 01.12.2007
The first participants travel to the bird protection camp on Sardinia. The 10 Italian and German activists, members of the Italian LAC, WWF and CABS will operate on the island from 1 – 8 December to locate and dismantle illegal horsehair snares for song birds. They will also cooperate with the local forest police to catch poachers.
Saturday, 03.11.2007
Today was the last day of the large CABS bird protection camp in Brescia, N. Italy, and also the end of the LAC camp on Sardinia.
In Brescia 13 activists in 4 teams were out on operations. Three groups were deployed to locate traps and nets in the lower Val Sabbia and found and removed nets and some 143 bow traps. In addition, 13 live decoy birds tethered near the illegal nets were freed.
Close to the provincial capital Brescia wildlife wardens caught 4 hunters poaching (shooting at protected species and using electronic lures). Their shotguns were confiscated.
On the last day of the bird camp on Sardinia a further 200 horsehair snares were found and removed,
Friday, 02.11.2007
A successful day in the Southern Alps with fantastic autumn weather. The 11 CABS members checked numerous trap and net locations and found a large quantity of trapping devices.
In the lower Val Sabbia 3 teams located and dismantled 1 net, 57 bow traps and 11 snap traps. In the upper Val Sabbia 2 nets were found and removed. In the upper Val Camonica another team found 14 bow traps and 1 net. In the mountains between Val Camonica and Val Trompia, as well as in several areas in Val Sabbia, numerous abandoned trapping sites were discovered. Some traps were also removed ny trappers themselves as the season is gradually nearing its end.
Thursday, 01.11.2007
The Brescia hunting community took full advantage of the best autumn weather to carry out a literal massacre today. In the morning 50 to 100 shots per minute could be heard in all corners of the province making today the most intense hunting day of the season. The victims were primarily Chaffinches and Bramblings which are currently crossing the Alps in large numbers.
Some 11 CABS bird camp participants were out on operations in the lower Val Sabbia today. Altogether we were able to dismantle 11 nets with a total length of some 90 metres and found 14 birds in the nets 9 of which could be released unharmed. In addition we set 9 live bird decoys free (4 Dunnocks, 2 Redwings and one each of Song Thrush, Siskin and Robin).
The WWF wildlife wardens, who were active in the lower Val Trompia today, confiscated one shotgun and laid charges against 3 hunters for various offences including the use of an electronic bird lure.
On Sardinia our LAC partners located and dismantled 1,100 horsehair snares and 6 nets.
Wednesday, 31.10.2007
Today 11 activists, in 4 teams, were out on operations.
Three teams were deployed to the mountains of the upper Val Trompia and, in addition to finding a large number of abandoned trapping sites, also located and removed 15 bow traps and a wire snare for wild rabbits..
In the Brescia lowlands, wildlife wardens laid charges against 3 hunters for offences against protected birds – one of them had shot 6 Reed Buntings. A shotgun was confiscated.
A total of 1,300 horsehair snares were dismantled by activists participating in the LAC camp on Sardinia. In addition 5 thrushes were set free and 10 dead birds removed.
Tuesday, 30.10.2007
Today, due to various ailments, only 5 activists were out in operations – in pouring rain.
20 snap traps were found in the hills north of the provincial capital Brescia and 58 bow traps in the mountains between Val Trompia and Val Camonica. All were dismantled.
Participants in the Sardinia camp dismantled 1,250 horsehair snares – also in the pouring rain.
Monday, 29.10.2007
Eight camp members were out on operations today.
Two teams checked trapping areas in the mountains between Val Trompia und Val Sabbia and found numerous abandoned sites. Not a single trapping device was found at sites where we found hundreds of bow traps and a dozen nets only a few years ago.
This was also true of the hilly country south of Lake Iseo where another team operated.
At midday the local forest police were taken to the private property where 6 lime sticks (not 5 as reported) were found yesterday. The owner was busy in his garden an could be arrested immediately. Our 35th poacher this autumn.
Members of our partner organisation LAC bird protection camp on Sardinia were able to remove 1,200 horsehair snares today.
Afternote
In the last 2 weeks, for political reasons, the operations of the WWF wardens – which we support financially – were on a smaller scale than usual. The 10 participants charged 42 poachers for illegal offences and confiscated 32 shotguns, some 300 dead birds and 50 live decoys.
Sunday, 28.10.2007
Today 14 participants in 3 teams were deployed on operations.
In the Lake Iseo area, where 11 nets were found on 24 October and 3 more the next day, a further 10 nets were found and dismantled today.
One team operated in the mountains north of Brescia and found only 15 bow traps.
In the evening a trapping site with half a dozen lime sticks was seen on private property and will be shown to the local forest police tomorrow.
Today also saw the start of our annual camp on Sardinia. The 14 participants located and removed some 1,450 horsehair song bird snares in the mountains north of th capital Cagliari.
The operations of the special unit of the forest police - Corpo Nucleo Antibracconaggio – have now ended after 4 weeks. Within 3 weeks we were able to lead the officers to 41 trapping sites which led to the arrest of 34 poachers caught red-handed, our best result to date in Brescia.
With a few exceptions, we will from now on dismantle all traps we find.
Saturday, 27.10.2007
The good weather has returned to Brescia. Due to personnel changeover and health problems only 8 activists were out on operations today.
One team found and removed 60 bow traps in the mountains between Val Camonica and Val Trompia. Another, operating in the hills between Val Trompia and Val Sabbia, located 6 nets and 20 bow traps. A one man team in the upper Val Camonica also found one net, 5 snap traps and 40 bow traps. These were left in position to be ambushed by WWF wardens,
Friday, 26.10.2007
11 bird camp participants, deployed in 2 teams, were out on operations today. One large team checked a valley in the mountains between Val Trompia and Val Sabbia where 38 nets were found last year. After a poacher was caught there at his net by the forest police last week it seems that all other poachers have taken in their nets. Today only one net was found and removed. Operations were made difficult by thick fog and heavy rain.
The other team checked net trapping sites in Val Sabbia – all were abandoned.
Thursday, 25.10.2007
Today also brought bad weather in the Southern Alps and operations of the 11 participants were correspondingly shortened.
In the morning two forest police patrols were led by us to net and traps located previously and in the afternoon a further patrol to another net trapping site found yesterday in Val Camonica. This latter operation was successful and a poacher was apprehended. A further poacher was arrested near his net at Lake Iseo which we had shown the police yesterday morning.
Today’s 4 teams were deployed in the mountains between Val Camonica and Val Trompia and in the lower Val Sabbia. In Val Sabbia only old, abandoned bow trap and net trapping sites were found although one team found on net which they dismantled. Three nets were found near Val Camonica, one of which was reported immediately to the police and this team also found 2 bow traps.
Wednesday, 24.10.2007
In pouring rain with snow showers 11 CABS activists were deployed today in 4 teams at heights of 1,100 m (3,500 ft).
In the morning forest police patrols were taken to trapping sites located in the past few days. One poacher was caught as the patrol arrived at the site (the 30th this autumn). Another police patrol posted a 2 nets we had found on 2.10 in Val Trompia caught a poacher married couple red-handed.
One team searched an area in the lower Val Camonica but found nothing. A second team found 11 (!) mist nets at Lake Iseo and left them in position for the police. Both other teams found between them 3 nets and 4 decoy Dunnocks in the lower Val Sabbia.
Tuesday, 23.10.2007
14 activists in 6teams were deployed in the Brescia Mountains today.
In the morning a forest police patrol was led to the net found by chance on 21.10 in Val Sabbia – at dusk a poacher was arrested.
In the afternoon WWF wardens were taken by a CABS member to 3 nets found on 15.10 in Val Sabbia. The poacher arrived 20 minutes later. In the immediate vicinity 3 more nets with altogether 6 decoy birds (Dunnocks and Siskins) were found. The poacher’s house was searched and a further 4 nets and 332 deep-frozen song birds confiscated!!!
The remaining CABS teams were deployed to various locations in Val Sabbia, Val Camonica and Val Trompia. A total of 4 nets, 1 snap trap and 28 bow traps were found by the teams.
Monday, 22.10.2007
4 teams with 11 participants were deployed on operations.
In the early morning a team was led to the bow traps found yesterday at Lake Iseo. Within a very short time 3 poachers were arrested. A thorough search of the gardens turned up not only the 21 traps we located yesterday but a grand total of 95 bow traps, 8 snap traps and 1 net.
One team was sent to the mountains between Val Trompia and Val Sabbia. After drawing a complete blank for hours they finally located 50 bow traps and 15 snap traps. Not far away another team located and removed 1 net and 12 bow traps.
The last team operated in the lower Val Trompia and found only 6 snap traps.
Sunday, 21.10.2007
Today 14 activists in 5 teams were out on operations.
During the (icy-cold) night two police patrols were led to the three nets found on 19.10 in the lower Val Sabbia. At midday a poacher was caught red-handed – a total of 25 during the camp so far.
The teams operated wide apart today. In the lower Val Trompia 4 nets and 10 snap traps were found, at Lake Iseo 21 bow traps, in the central Val Trompia 15 bow traps, in the high mountain area between Val Trompia ans Val Camonica 33 snap and 34 bow traps as well as 2 wire snares for wild boar.
Numerous trapping sites checked today were at one time poaching hot spots – now they are almost all abandoned!
Saturday, 20.10.2007
Today was once again changeover day so only 8 activists (3 teams) were on operations.
At dawn a police patrol was led to a net found yesterday in the lower Val Trompia – a 36 year old poacher was arrested at midday.
One team operated in the high mountain area between Val Trompia and Val Sabbia and located 2 nets (with 2 live decoys). The nets were left in situ for the police. Two other traditional trapping sites were free of nets and traps. On the return journey the team found another net in the lower Val Sabbia.
Another team searched the central Val Trompia and located 1 snap trap and 3 nets one of which they dismantled. The net contained two Dunnocks and a young Stonechat. These, and 3 decoy birds were released.
Friday, 19.10.2007
Another very successful day in the Brescia mountains. The 12 activists were split up into 4 teams.
In the early morning the forest police were led to trapping sites located on 17 October. During the course of the morning one poacher with 60 bow traps was arrested in the central Val Trompia and another with 10 (!!!) nets, 15 bow traps and 10 snap traps was caught (we had only found four of the nets).
A third poacher, who had set up a net in the upper Val Sabbia with 4 decoy birds (2 Chaffinches and 2 Redwings), was caught by WWF wardens. I addition they confiscated a further 8 illegal decoy birds (Crossbill, Siskin, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock and Hawfinch) from a hunter.
The 4 CABS teams found 3 nets and 30 bow traps in the lower Val Sabbia and 1 net in the lower Val Trompia. All were left standing for police ambushes.
Thursday, 18.10.2007
In typically dull and foggy autumn weather 14 activists in 5 teams took part in operations.
Just before dawn we led a forest police patrol to a net trapping site in the central Val Sabbia – at midday the trapper was arrested and his 2 nets removed.
In the morning the forest police conducted a very successful operation near Lake Garda. In the location where a CABS team – thanks to a tip from a German tourist – had found 2 nets and numerous lime sticks on 10 October, 2 poachers were arrested. In addition to the nets and traps we had located, the police confiscated 2 more nets with a total length of 200 m and 30 live bird decoys. In addition the poachers were in possession of 70 dead birds.
The other teams operated in the lower Val Sabbia. Two of the teams came home empty handed despite intensive searches; the other 2 teams found and removed 20 bow traps and one snap trap.
Wednesday, 17.10.2007
Early this morning two forest police patrols were led to the nets found yesterday in the lower Val Sabbia. One of the poachers was arrested at dawn. He will be severely punished this time as he was convicted of poaching only 2 years ago.
Another illegal trapper was caught in the upper Val Trompia. His 70 bow traps were found by an Italian CABS member last week.
In addition 4 teams were out on operations. One group found 4 nets in the ventral Val Sabbia and another 1 net and 110 bow traps in the central Val Trompia. The other two teams in Val Sabbia and Val Camonica, who had checked traditional sites, found them completely abandoned.
Tuesday, 16.10.2007
The 13 activists on operations today also had a successful day.
During the night the forest police were taken to two trapping sites, with 40 bow traps and one net, located yesterday. At midday they caught the trapper red-handed.
In the morning a large scale forest police operation, in cooperation with CABS teams, were carried out in several towns in lower Val Trompia. The officers raided about a dozen gardens in which (see 13.10) numerous traps had been observed by our teams. A total of 4 persons were apprehended for poaching. In addition 105 snap traps were confiscated as well as a Chaffinch used as a live decoy.
One team operated in the lower Val Sabbia and found 4 nets. On their return journey they also found and dismantled 4 bow traps in a well known trapping site in Val Camonica.
Another team patrolled a mountain slope overlooking Lake Iseo where in previous years hundreds of traps and numerous nets had been set out. Today they removed only 29 bow traps.
Two further teams, operating in the upper Val Sabbia and the lower Val Camonica, found nothing.
A good day with a record numbers of 5 poachers arrested.
Monday, 15.10.2007
A very successful day with 12 activists in 5 teams out on operations.
Two forest police patrols were led during the night to trapping areas identified earlier. The poacher at the net that was found in the upper Val Sabbia on 12.10, as well as another whose traps and nets had been found in the lower Val Trompia on 13.10 (the latter with 2 nets) were arrested this morning.
A team operating between Val Trompia and Val Camonica found a trap line with 32 bow traps and informed the police immediately. The officers ambushed the site shortly afterwards and caught the poacher within a short period of time – the third to be arrested today as a result of our information.
A further team checked out villages in the central Val Trompia and, not far from the built up areas, located 60 snap traps and 1 net. Another team, operating in the central Val Sabbia, located and dismantled 1 net, 40 bow traps and 11 snap traps.
The final group, operating in the upper Val Camonica, found only abandoned trapping sites.
Sunday, 14.10.2007
Thirteen activists in 4 teams took part in operations today.
In the morning the forest police arrested another poached who had set traps in the central Val Sabbia – our seventh bird trapper of the season.
Two teams searched for nets and traps in the immediate vicinity of the large towns in the lower Val Trompia. Only 5 nets were found in areas where over 70 nets and over 300 bow traps had been found 2 years ago. A large area in the central Val Trompia was also searched. All old trapping sites from previous were abandoned.
The same was true of the hilly country south of Lake Iseo. Bird trapping has completely vanished in some individual areas.
Saturday, 13.10.2007
Today was a personnel changeover day and only 3 teams, with 8 participants were out on operations.
In the early hours one team led the forest police to the trap line in the upper Val Camonica which we had located on 09.10. The officers had hardly time to take up positions before the poacher arrived to tend his traps. The team searched the surrounding area and found a large, 30 m long net and 40 snap traps. The traps were removed and the net left standing for the police.
In Val Trompia another team found a large number of traps, The exact details will be published later for tactical reasons.
The third team patrolled in the upper Val Sabbia and combed an area where in the past many traps and nets had been found – the area was deserted.
Friday, 12.10.2007
Four teams - with a total of 10 activists - were on operations today.
One team was in the central Val Camonica and found 4 nets which were left in position for the forest police.
Three teams covered Val Sabbia. In the lower part of the valley, despite an intensive search, nothing was found. In the central section the teams found 2 nets, 6 bow traps and 6 snap traps. In the upper section of the valley 1 net and 2 snares for wild boar were found.
Thursday, 11.10.2007
We had 3 teams with 11 participants out on operations today.
In the early hours we led the forest police to four sites with nets and traps. The police took up ambush positions and shortly afterwards arrested a poacher at the net we located yesterday in the lower Val Trompia. No news yet (20:25 hrs) of the success or otherwise of the other ambush patrols.
Two teams were sent to cover the upper Val Sabbia. One discovered 10 snap traps and a net; the other 12 bow and 4 snap traps.
The team sent to look for traps and nets at the northern end of Lake Garda found only abandoned trapping sites.
On the way to their operational areas all teams checked traditional sites for traps and nets but found nothing! A good case in point is the Gombio trap line in the lower Val Trompia. In the 1980s we found over 100 bow traps here; since then we have found less and less each year. In 2005 the trapper was arrested by the police. Last year he put out 4 traps which we dismantled in front of him with the words “Next time we’ll be back with the police.” Today, for the first time, there were no traps to be seen!
Wednesday, 10.10.2007
As yesterday with 11 participants in 4 teams out on operations.
In the early morning forest police officers, who had set up an ambush near the two sites we located on 01.10.07(1 net und 15 bow traps) caught both poachers within a short time.
The Lake Garda team found two more nets and left them in position for police action. One of the two locations was reported a hour earlier in a telephone call from a Bavarian lady tourist.
A net was also found in the lower Val Trompia. The team operating in the higher mountain areas of the upper Val Camonica found numerous traditional trapping sites abandoned by the poachers this season.
North of Lake Idro a CABS member – acting on a tip off – found 2 nets each 100 m long ….. on closer examination they proved to be a scientific ringing site.
Tuesday, 09.10.2007
A successful day in North Italy with 11 participants in 4 teams out on operations. In the morning the forest police, acting on our information, caught a poacher at Lake Iseo with 30 bow traps and 11 snap traps - 'our' first poacher this season.
In the upper Val Sabbia one of our teams located 5 trapping sites with a total of 30 bow traps and 11 snap traps. They were left in position and the forest police informed for their action. The team was threatened by a poacher with a cudgel.
In the upper Val Camonica, north of Lake Iseo, another team located 3 trapping sites with a total of 80 bow traps and 15 snap traps. These were also reported to the police.
Team 4 carried out operations near Lake Garda. They showed the forest police yesterday’s find of lime sticks and net. One of the two poachers was caught red-handed in possession of bow traps – our second poacher 'catch'!
Monday, 08.10.2007
Four teams (10 participants) were out on operations.
One team was on the western side of Lake Garda where they found no traps or nets; but came across a hunter using an electronic 'Chaffinch' lure. When they spoke to him about the lure, he became very indignant, aimed his shotgun at one of the Germans in the team and - without warning - fired a load of shot into the ground at the feet of the team members. He was photographed and it is hoped he can be identified by the police and charged.
Another team covered the central shore of Lake Iseo and found and removed 31 metal snap traps. The team on the northern shore found a net and 11 lime sticks. These were left in place for the forest police to ambush.
The fourth team covered trapping sites in Val Camonica and in Val Trompia where poachers had been caught the last 2 years. All the sites were abandoned - the poachers have apparently given up!
Sunday, 07.10.2007
In the morning there was a demonstration against hunting of migrant birds on the Colle San Zeno – a pass between Val Camonica und Val Trompia at almost 2,000 m. Some 30 members of our partner organisation LAC took part, not bad for 9.00 am in the Alps!
At the camp, 10 participants in 3 teams took part in operations. Not far from the site of the demonstration a trapper’s net and a trap line with 15 bow traps were located and details passed to the forest police.
In the lower Val Trompia, one of our teams swept an area where two years ago 40 nets and over 100 live decoys had been found. The sites are now all abandoned.
Saturday, 06.10.2007
The first day in the camp in Val Camonica - not yet fully manned.
Two teams with altogether 6 participants locate a small trap line with 8 bow traps (Archetti) near Lake Iseo. Ten years ago we would have found 20 times that number of illegal traps here!
Friday, 05.10.2007
The first participants arrive in the evening at Iseo. The large scale CABS bird protection camp in Brescia province begins in earnest tomorrow.
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