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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 8 AUGUST 2021 11 ALMANAC Nature Notebook 774. Cetti's Warbler YOU rarely see it but you will often be 'informed' it's there. You see, the bird is a loudmouth. There may be little visually spectacular about the largely brown Cetti's warbler, but the sudden powerful staccato call coming from a neaby hidden perch is quite a conversation stop- per. Cetti's warbler is close to Maltese birders' heart because it's one of the precious few birds that nest on our crowded rock. The species set up residence in Malta in the mid-1970s and has since spread to most valleys, preferring places with copious vegetation to suit its shy nature; there is today a substantial resident population. Its official Maltese name is bufula tal-għollieq but we always call it ċetta. It's shorter, and the name echoes both the Italian naturalist whose name it bears, as well as its unmistakable Chett! Chetti-chetti-chetti! call. Victor Falzon, Aron Tanti www.birdlifemalta.org Green idea of the week 666: Find out more about Maltese nature on our blog: www. foemalta.org/plantofthemonth August Flower of the Month: Sea Squill MT: Basal tal-Għansar August is one of the toughest months for all wildlife and few plants have the resilience to survive the scorching heat and drought of the Maltese dry season. Annual species usually complete their life cycle before the heat while perennials adopt extreme strate- gies such as by having tiny but tough leaves, by going dormant in summer or by drastically reducing their greenery. The Sea Squill uses an avoidance technique combined with a clever storage of nu- trients and water encased in an extremely tough (and toxic) bulb. The beautiful flowers usually start blossoming on a metre tall stalk around August with pretty star-like flowers which are often the on- ly source of food for various insects at this time of year. 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.foemalta.org/donate Appster Smartphone fun and smarter work Kitchen Stories Recipes FREE Apple, Andriod Kitchen Stories offers inspiring videos and photo instructions for recipes that anyone can cook. TECH RETAILERS contact afarrugia@ mediatoday.com.mt A GOOD WEEK FOR Good Week/Bad Week Don't miss this A BAD WEEK FOR Conditioned Comforts Date: Until 5 September Place: Saint James Cavalier Emma Fsadni's first large-scale solo show develops her concerns with her generation's state of being, enveloped as it is, in twenty-first century soothing-tools. Her interest in how manmade comforts impact on her contemporaries' existence is explored through abstract forms, muted colours and several installations, derived from in-depth interviews with friends and colleagues. South Park. The creators of the South Park cartoons have signed a $900m deal with US media giant ViacomCBS. The agreement will see Trey Parker and Matt Stone make new South Park episodes for the Comedy Central network. Chicago. Influential Chicago house music DJ Paul Johnson has died at the age of 50 after contracting Covid-19. Johnson, who had a global hit with Get Get Down in 1999 and was named as an influence by Daft Punk, had spent several weeks in hospital. The pair are also set to create more than a dozen spinoff movies for Paramount+ streaming service Paul Johnson was 50-years- old Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member