Abruzzo, long celebrated as Europe’s “Greenest Region” for its national parks, rich biodiversity, and wildlife-friendly identity, is once again under fire – this time for turning its hunting sights on the sky.
8,221 Starlings and 19,317 Finches to Be Culled
The regional government has authorised the hunting of over 27,000 songbirds, including species that have been protected for over 33 years such as the starling and chaffinch, both classified as songbirds essential to the health of local ecosystems.
Many of the birds targeted in Abruzzo’s 2025 hunting plan are natural pest controllers. For example:
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Starlings eat large numbers of caterpillars, beetles, and fly larvae, including those that attack crops.
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Chaffinches and bramblings feed on insect pests during the breeding season to nourish their young.
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Thrushes and redwings eat snails, beetles, ants, and moth larvae, helping protect orchards, vineyards, and vegetable plots.
Removing them could result in surges of pest insects, increasing the need for chemical pesticides, which are more expensive and damaging long-term.
The list of small songbirds that are on the 2025 hunters’ list are
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European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
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Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
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Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)
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Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
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Blackbird (Turdus merula)
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Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
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Redwing (Turdus iliacus)
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Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
This sudden reversal of long-standing protections has sparked outrage among environmental groups and nature lovers who see it as part of a worrying pattern. Last year, the same regional authorities approved a controversial illegal plan to cull 500 deer. That move was blocked by Italy’s highest administrative court, following a legal challenge by animal welfare organisations.
Now, with Abruzzo’s precious birdlife in the government’s sights, many are asking: what future does Abruzzo face if its government continues to prioritise hunting over conservation, pushed through with limited scientific transparency or public consultation?
Although traditional hunting has historic roots in the region, critics argue that this is no longer about rural subsistence, but a vote-winning political alignment with powerful hunting lobbies at the expense of environmental protection and Abruzzo’s eco-tourism economy.
Just as with last year’s deer cull, costly legal action may once again be the path forward. Environmental groups are reviewing the decision and considering court challenges. In the meantime, naturalists, birders, and residents are being called to raise awareness—calling on the public to speak out in defence of the region’s winged wildlife.
In a region that should be a model for nature-positive policy, Abruzzo’s leaders face a choice: embrace their global reputation as guardians of biodiversity, or risk turning one of Europe’s most beloved natural havens into a silent, empty shell.
These birds are not pests — they are vital insect-eaters, seed-spreaders, and pollinators. Their songs are the soundtrack of our landscapes. Their presence keeps insect populations in balance and supports biodiversity in forests, vineyards, and farmland alike.
Removing protections on these species is unscientific and regressive. It harms ecosystems, risks crop health through rising pest populations, and undermines the environmental credibility of a region known for national parks and biodiversity.
Populations are already in decline; over the last 10 years, starling numbers have decreased by 17%. Although chaffinches were classed as stable, figures have not been available for Italian populations since 2010, leading us to ask, since when has stable equated to being overrun and necessitating a cull?
We urge citizens, farmers, nature lovers, and lawmakers to choose sustainable solutions that value nature over a bullets-for-votes policy
Let Abruzzo be known for its birdsong, not for the silence of the birds.
Author: Sam Dunham
Sam is a freelance SEO content creator and IGCSE Geography and English teacher at Istituto Cristo Re in Rome. She also runs the Life In Abruzzo Cultural Association, sharing stories and insights about this captivating region.
Alongside raising a teenager, Sam hosts guests at her family’s traditional home, the Little House of the Firefly in Abruzzo, offering a warm welcome and insider tips on local culture, food, and hidden gems.
