Four new families have been formed at BirdLife Malta’s Ghadira Nature Reserve, with two pairs of Black-winged Stilts and two pairs of Little Ringed Plovers which nested at the reserve in May and successfully hatched their young between the end of May and the beginning of June.

BirdLife Malta has said that it is offering members of the public the opportunity to enjoy the two family parties of the Black-winged Stilts and Little Ringed Plovers which successfully hatched and reared their young at the reserve during a special open day this month.

The two pairs of Black-winged Stilts (Fras-servjent in Maltese) hatched four young each, while the two pairs of Little Ringed Plovers (Monakella) also had a successful breeding season with each raising three young respectively. One of them is now busy seeing to a second clutch of eggs.

BirdLife explained that the stilts had previously bred successfully in 2011 and then for five consecutive years at Ghadira between 2013 and 2017, before taking another break last year. On the other hand, Little Ringed Plovers first bred at Ghadira in 1995.

The event – similar to the ones held last year for the record number of Greater Flamingos hosted at Ghadira during summer – will be held on Saturday, the 29th of June. The reserve will be open between 7:00am and 10:00am. Entry will be free of charge, with no booking needed.

BirdLife Malta staff will be on site to explain about the species breeding at the reserve and show the public around the reserve.

Photograph: BirdLife Malta

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