Several traps to capture small birds were found and apprehended by Nature Watchers of the Ria Formosa Natural Park in an inspection carried out at Praia de Faro.
Guards Silvério Lopes and Carlos Capela removed the traps and even saved two robins, «a small bird that is well known for the orange spot that adorns its chest», revealed the Portuguese Association of Guards and Watchers of Nature .
«The traps commonly known as spars, ribs or slabs, are made of wire on which a bait is placed, usually winged ants. The birds caught in this way are for gastronomic purposes», according to the association, which emphasizes that this practice is illegal.
Algarve, Lisbon and Porto are the regions of the country where there is more illegal capture of birds. «In the Algarve, the catch for snacks stands out, in which the robin and the black-capped warbler are the ones that most frequently end up in the frying pan», according to the nature watchers.
“This activity affects nature conservation and the loss of these birds makes biodiversity increasingly poor. The sharp decline in the species most affected by this type of action can lead to a significant increase in insect pests, given that the most captured passerines are excellent natural pest controllers," added the association.
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