One million migratory birds slaughtered in Cyprus

More than 1.1 million songbirds prized as culinary delicacies were illegally slaughtered by trappers in Cyprus in the past year, a conservation group said on Tuesday.

Cyprus lies on a key migratory route and bird trapping has been commonplace for years. Trappers use either fine mist nets or sticks dipped in sticky lime.

"The figure is an unacceptable toll which ever way you look at it," said Martin Hellicar, executive manager for Birdlife Cyprus.

Many of the birds are served up as expensive delicacies in local restaurants, even though trapping and consumption is strictly banned, the group said.

Although the overall figure in trappings appeared unchanged for 2008 compared to 2007, there was a 50 percent spike in trappings during the winter of 2008 compared to the same season a year earlier, Hellicar said.

A report on the situation, compiled by Birdlife Cyprus and Britain's Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, has been submitted to a wildlife committee of the Council of Europe, the Cypriot government and the European Commission.

About 90 percent of the migratory birds which fly from Europe to warmer climates over Cyprus each year are protected, and also include threatened species.

Trapping using fine mist nets spread over trees is a common method, along with lime sticks placed in bushes. Birdsong recordings are used as a lure.

The birds, known as "ampelopoulia" are served in restaurants for up to five euros apiece. They are normally fried, wrapped in vine leaves to conceal from other possibly disapproving patrons and consumed whole.