Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1363129
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 APRIL 2021 9 ALMANAC Nature Notebook 758. Glossy ibis THE combination of long neck, long legs and sickle-shaped bill ren- der the glossy ibis (M. velleran) unmistakable, even in flight. From a distance and especially in flight he bird looks black but the plum- age is actually purple-brown, with a nice green sheen on the wings (hence 'glossy'). While seen in Malta every year, glossy ibises are rather scarce, so sightings of this species will always be the name listed in bold on any birdwatcher's log. It is a bird of lakes, marsh- es and other shallow watery places, where its fantastic beak comes in handy for probing about in the water, snapping up invertebrates. Very few places in Malta are therefore attractive for this bird, so thank God for places like BirdLife's Għadira, Is-Simar and Salina wetlands, where a few glossies checked in over the past weeks. Victor Falzon, Raymond Vella www.birdlifemalta.org Green idea of the week 650 Sign the petition and get a chance to prepare and try our Honey Bee Cocktail: Welcome Spring and its busy pollinators with our Honey Bee Cocktail ! SPRING is coming, flowers are blooming! If you love this season as much as we do, you'll want to save the bees who make it possible, by signing the petition below. To celebrate their hard work, you can then drink up our Honey Bee cocktail for them! Find the recipe on our website http://www.foemalta.org/beedrink VISIT Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as information about how to join us. You can also support us by sending us a donation – www.foe- malta.org/donate www.foemalta.org/beesaver Appster Smartphone fun and smarter work Sky Guide €3.49 Apple, Android Sky Guide makes stargazing simple. Just hold it overhead to automatically find stars, constellations, planets, satellites and more. With so many fun and powerful features, there is something for all ages and experience levels. TECH RETAILERS contact afarrugia@ mediatoday.com.mt A GOOD WEEK FOR Good Week/Bad Week Don't miss this A BAD WEEK FOR Return Island – Exhibition by Dominique Ciancio Date: 6 to 27 May Times: Monday to Friday - 8am to 7pm and Saturday - 9am to 1:30pm Venue: Art Galleries of the Malta Society of Arts, Valletta Maltese born painter Dominique Ciancio has for the past ten years worked as a freelance artist between Malta and Norway. Like many during the recent flight restrictions he found himself unusually bound to the island. This time however allowed for precious moments of reflection. The memories of growing up on a Mediterranean island with its temperament and traditions intertwined with present realities of urbanisation, human relationships and a constant flow of sagas. Fans of festivals. The Edinburgh International Festival will be going ahead this summer with huge outdoor marquees to stage events. The shows will be shorter with no intervals at this year's festival, which runs between 7 and 29 August. Bad week for Europe. Deaths in the WHO European region have surpassed 1 million. In the region 1.6 million new cases are reported every week. That's 9,500 every hour, 160 people every minute. The programme will be announced on Wednesday 2 June Hospitalisation rates remain at high levels in the region Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member