Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1365202
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 25 APRIL 2021 9 ALMANAC Nature Notebook 759. Maltese Wall Lizard IT may be common but it's still special. The Maltese wall lizard isn't exactly a rarity, as almost anyone with a garden patch can attest. Still, it would be on the ticklist of any visiting foreigner with even a mild interest in reptiles. Yup, our humble little crawler is to Malta as the koala is to Australia: it's endemic. Not only that: it comes in three different colour schemes! There's one race on the three main islands, then a stunning black-with-tourquise-sequins race on Filfla (see photo), and another on Il-Gebla tal-General. Up to a decade ago we had a fourth race on Selmunett, but thanks to an invasion of rats, the race went extinct. So next you spot your garden gremxula snooz- ing on a stone, remember it's yet another little reason that renders our country unique. Victor Falzon, Timothy Micallef www.birdlifemalta.org Green idea of the week 651 Find out more about Maltese nature on our blog: Flower of the Month: Flower of the month – April: Wild Or- chids of the Maltese Islan OVER 30 species of orchids have been recorded in the Maltese Is- lands, though only a handful of these can be said to be widespread. Orchids flower for a short period of time after many long months ly- ing dormant underground – the old Maltese name is curious in this regard as it shows its lifecycle: "Ħajja u Mejta" literally translating to Alive and Dead owing to its 2 tubers one of which is swollen while the other shrinks during the flowering period. February – April is usually the best months for delighting in encountering some of the main species dressed up in their curious and often elaborate mim- icry costume and curious means of olfactory deceit to attract pol- linators. 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/plantofthemonth Appster Smartphone fun and smarter work Zedge Free Apple, Android If you really want to make your smartphone or tablet your own, Zedge is the app you'll want to use to personalize your device's ringtones, notifications, and alarm sounds. The app offers thousands of high-quality sounds that are free and easy to download. Browse through the categories or use the search function to look for a specific sound. From obscure sounds to classic jingles, you can set a custom ringtone for each person in your contact list, so you always know who's calling. TECH RETAILERS contact afarrugia@ mediatoday.com.mt A GOOD WEEK FOR Good Week/Bad Week Don't miss this A BAD WEEK FOR Wires Date: 29-30 May Location: Valletta Campus Theatre Three young people put their secrets online, their minds reassured that no one can ever find out about them. Until ... everyone gets to know them. In a world where all the time we wait for the next update (that new piece of information selected for us by the algorithms) - us and the way we behave, how much is formed by this information? And how much do our internal algorithms affect our reactions to the information around us? Our perceptions of the world around us ... are they really ours? This production is in Maltese. Good week for fans of Downtown Abby. The historical drama Downton Abbey is set to return to the big screen this Christmas, it has been announced. The original ITV series ran for six series before it was turned into a feature film in 2019, starring Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGover Bad week for Peaky Blinders and Harry Potter fans. British actor Helen McCroryhas died aged 52. Her husband, fellow actor Damian Lewis, said McCrory died "peacefully at home" after a "heroic battle with cancer." The film will be will be released in cinemas on 22 December McCrory was one of Britain's most respected actors Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member