Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1245222
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 MAY 2020 9 CULTURE NATURE All falcons are special, but there is something extra special about the darker ones. One of these is the red-footed falcon (M. żumbrell), with the male a dark blue-grey all over, except for the rust-red 'trouser' area. It is (usually) a frequent spring visitor to our shores, as it migrates north to breed. A gregarious bird, it likes to travel in groups and nest in colonies. Falcons are not particularly large birds of prey, and the red-footed is one of the smaller falcons. So its food is mostly large insects like grass- hoppers and dragonflies, which it often catches in flight. With human hunters having infested the countryside over the last couple of weeks, red-footed falcons will no doubt be counted among the thousands of birds that were be illegally shot dead – you know, to slake that "socio-cultural" urge to kill. Text: Victor Falzon Photo: Aron Tanti 707. RED-FOOTED FALCON Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as for information about how to join us. You can also support us by sending us a donation - www.foemalta.org/donate GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 607 Find out more: www.foemalta.org/goodfood WELL-KNOWN environmental campaigner Cami Appelgren will today walk alone from Cirkewwa to Birzebbuga to raise €1,600 for the St John Rescue Corps. SJRC provides vital backup rescue services to the Civil Pro- tection Department and, since the outbreak of COVID-19, it has become an integral part of a coordinated effort to combat the pandemic. Appelgren's journey should take her 32,000 steps (32km) across Malta. "I am raising these funds for those front liners who aren't in the direct spotlight," Appelgren, who recently joined the Corps as a volunteer, said. "Even though they may not be seen, they extremely hard every day to be prepared for any emer- gency, and to react to it at a mo- ment's notice. They were ready long before COVID-19 and will be on-hand to assist long after it passes." For details about how to donate please visit http://www.sjrcmal- ta.org/donate/, add #Cami as a message and choose how many steps you'd like to support. (€5 per 100 steps) Well-known activist in 32km walk in aid of St John's Rescue Corps Cami Appelgren THE Malta Tourism Authority has welcomed news that the Foundation for Environmental Edu- cation awarded 11 beaches in Malta and Gozo the coveted Blue Flag status for this year. The Blue Flag programme is operated under the auspices of the Foundation for Environmen- tal Education (FEE) which is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark and has members in 77 countries. For the beaches to qualify for this prestigious award, a series of stringent environmental, edu- cational, safety-related and access-related crite- ria must be met and maintained. The beaches that have obtained this pres- tigious eco-certificate this year are Buġibba Perched Beach, Fond Għadir (Sliema), Gold- en Sands Beach, Għajn Tuffieħa Bay, Mellieħa Beach, Qawra Point Beach, St George's Bay (St Julian's) and Westin Dragonara Beach Club St Julian's (managed by Westin Dragonara Resort) in Malta, and Ħondoq ir-Rummien Bay, Marsal- forn Bay and Ramla Bay in Gozo. Blue Flag accreditation is only awarded for one season at a time, based on the beach's perfor- mance in the previous year, and as long as the relevant criteria covering water quality, envi- ronmental education and information, environ- mental management, and safety and other ser- vices, are fulfilled. Even if awarded the eco-label, the Blue Flag may be withdrawn at any time if the quality of the beach declines. The fact that several beaches have been found worthy of the Blue Flag status is a mark of qual- ity that clearly demonstrates that the beaches managed by the MTA are up to international standard. 11 beaches in Malta and Gozo awarded Blue Flag status