This coming Sunday, the 3rd of November, BirdLife Malta invites members of the public to come to the first ever ‘Nature Festival’ at Is-Simar Nature Reserve in Xemxija, to celebrate the start of a new winter/spring season during which Ghadira and Is-Simar Nature Reserves will be open to visitors every weekend between November to May.The all-day event will start at 10.00am and finish at 4.00pm, with special activities for all the family being organised throughout the day. Every hour, Guided Nature Walks will help people to explore and learn about some of the abundant plant and animal wildlife found in the reserve’s different habitats, and licensed bird ringers will demonstrate scientific bird ringing and how bird ringing studies help ornithologists and conservationists to understand more about bird migration and populations.There will also be children’s games, mural painting and craft activities taking place throughout the day, and refreshments will be provided by Xemxija Lounge cafe.

A special Nature Photography Workshop lead by wildlife photographer Aron Tanti will take place between 3.30pm and 4.00pm. Some useful techniques for photographing different kinds of wildlife will be practised and participants will then spend part of the workshop taking their own photographs in the reserve, which will then be shared with the rest of the group back in the visitor centre.

Booking is essential for this activity as places are limited. To book, contact BirdLife Malta by phoning 21347644-6 or emailing office@birdlifemalta.org. You can also send BLM a message through the BirdLife Malta Facebook page.

Nature Reserves Manager, Mark Gauci, said, “After the shocking events of the last week, we want as many people as possible to come to Simar this Sunday to see a positive side of wildlife and nature conservation in the islands. Is-Simar and Ghadira offer brilliant, but all too rare, examples of just what can be achieved for wildlife when areas are protected, restored and managed properly.”

Is-Simar and Ghadira are both home to numerous native Maltese plants and animals, including rare and endemic species found only in the Maltese Islands. At this time of year the reserve provides shelter to many migrating songbirds and waders, as well as resident and over-wintering birds, including kingfishers, Barn Swallows, Song Thrush, herons, grebes, and Little Egrets.

Other wildlife includes reptiles such as snakes, skinks and chameleons, and a variety invertebrates including beetles, bees and dragonflies. The pools are home to the rare and protected killifish and a rare tassel-weed.

Is-Simar and Ghadira are both protected Bird Sanctuaries and Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance, as well as being part of site and part of Europe’s Natura 2000 network of protected sites.

For more information, visit the nature reserves pages on the BirdLiofe Malta website, www.birdlifemalta.org.

Photographs – Sunrise Ghadira Nature Reserve: Aron Tanti. Sunrise, waking up:Aron Tanti. BW Stilt with shrimp:Aron Tanti. Reflections of Ghadira:Aron Tanti. Kingfisher:Aron Tanti. Little Stint_Aron Tanti. Moussier’s Redstart la Comino. Nic Barbar releases Kingfisher in Ghadira:Robert Spanring.

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