Salina flamingo settles in for extended stay

A single Greater Flamingo appears to have enjoyed its Malta experience and has settled in for an extended stay at Salina, Qawra.

The Phoenicopterus roseus was first seen in Malta last Tuesday by birdwatchers in Marsaxlokk and then spotted resting at the Salina salt pans.

“It is difficult to know whether to be excited or worried,” said BirdLife Malta Conservation and Policy Officer, Christian Debono.

“We want people to enjoy seeing this amazing bird, which has decided to visit Salina, but we also know there are those who would do it harm given the chance.”

The lone protected bird landed in the salt pans, which are currently undergoing restoration, last Wednesday morning and has since been under 24-hour guard by BirdLife Malta staff, volunteers, local residents and police, in an effort to avoid a repeat of what happened to the last flamingo to visit Salina, in June last year.

One of the pairs of Black-winged Stilts, Fras-servjent, which have been attempting to breed in the Ghadira wetland reserve for the second consecutive year this summer. Photo by Aron Tanti