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Karl Stagno-Navarra
Government has admitted not having a policy regulating the use of so called “gas cannons”, widely intended for use as a bird deterrent from airfields.
The cannons are however being found to be quite useful in private Gozitan vineyards, causing an unbearable nuisance to nearby residents.
Though no bird deterrent gas is let off from these cannons, their use is deemed “efficient” as they burst compressed air through a timer to generate a ‘bang’, intended to frighten off the birds.
Residents along the Xaghra valley, leading down to Ramla Bay in Gozo have expressed deep frustration the tedious and repeated bangs generated by the cannons from private vineyards.
A spokesman for the Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment admitted to MaltaToday that “there is no policy covering gas cannons”. With regards to complaints about the noise, the ministry spokesman simply said, “these should be referred to the police”.
Gas cannons are mostly intended as a harassment strategy for birds in airports, but have found their place in Gozitan vineyards as a deterrent to foraging sparrows.
ksnavarra@mediatoday.com.mt
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