Birds, Bins and Bullets (2008) Online

Birds, Bins and Bullets (2008) Online

Malta is well known in bird-watching circles for its annual slaughter of birds of prey and illegal spring hunting. Conservationists from all over the world attend camps there in an effort to combat this "traditional pastime", and to wrestle the countryside from the grip of 15,000 hunters and trappers. For over 20 years the two main political parties in Malta have been hi-jacked by the hunting and trapping lobby, thereby allowing the indiscriminate slaughter of protected species to carry on unabated. Since Malta's accession to the E.U. the poaching of birds for inclusion in hunters' taxidermy collections continues despite the EU Birds and Habitats Directive. "Birds, Bins & Bullets" follows a group of birdwatchers from the UK as they work alongside the Malta Police Force and Birdlife Malta volunteers in their fight against this illegal hunting. This is about international conservation and about reclaiming the countryside for the birds, and for the people of Malta. Aggressive and abusive...

Stephen Cummings was awarded an "Honorable Mention for Conservation Message" for Birds, Bins and Bullets at the 32nd International Wildlife Film Festival in Missoula, Montana in 2009.

In 2008 Stephen Cummings released "The Honey Buzzard", a fifteen minute short, part of which features in "Birds, Bins and Bullets". Stephen was awarded an "Honorable Mention for Portrayal of a Critical Issue" at the 31st IWFF in Missoula for "The Honey Buzzard" in 2008.

Three people were shot by hunters during the making of the documentary.

Birdlife Malta used some of the documentary footage for their on-line web campaigns protesting against illegal hunting in Malta.

A limited edition DVD was produced privately in the UK which sold more copies in Malta than anywhere else.