BirdLife organise ‘warder experience’ for children

On Saturday, BirdLife Malta took 12 children to their Ghadira Nature Reserve. The children worked alongside expert wardens and got to plant seedlings, take note of the various species on site and see birds up close during a bird ringing demonstration.

“Hands-on experience is the best way to learn,” BirdLife Education Manager Hannah Chisholm said. “By getting out in nature and doing something practical to look after it, these young people will make a direct link between their actions and what affect it has on the countryside.”

“Seeing a kingfisher really close was great,” Andrew Desira, aged 9 said. “It was very colourful and I enjoyed watching it fly after it had been ringed.”

“I enjoyed walking along the nature trail, spotting all the different animals and counting loads of beetles,” Giuseppe Aloisio, also aged 9 said.

Ghadira Nature Reserve has been a bird sanctuary since 1978 and is one of the few refuges for migrating birds in Malta.

“I hope that through more days like this we’ll inspire these young people to grow up wanting to protect nature in Malta,” Assistant Reserves Warden Tom Hendry said.

Ghadira Nature Reserve will be open to the public at weekends from 1 November. Is-Simar Nature Reserve, Xemxija will hold a re-opening event. For further details, contact [email protected] or call BirdLife’s office at 21347646.