Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1407680
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 SEPTEMBER 2021 9 ALMANAC Nature Notebook 778. European Roller ALL birdwatchers agree that, colour-wise, most European birds are drab. With few exceptions, they are brown, grey, white, black or a combination of this rather meagre palette. One psychedelic excep- tion is the European roller: it's tourquoise! And ultramarine, chest- nut, pastel blue, metallic purple and black. Quite unmistakable, and very tropical-sounding colours too. Well this bird actually crosses the tropics every year as it winters in southern Africa. But to nest, rollers travel north to the Mediterranean, eastern Europe, etc. so they turn up here too in spring and autumn, regular but very scarce. Rollers (M. farrug) like to perch in the open, on wires and things. But there's a downside to all this colour: a sighting like that tends to generate much 'socio-cultural' passion to shoot it, despite its pro- tected status. Victor Falzon, Ray Galea www.birdlifemalta.org Green idea of the week 670: Scan the QR code to sign the petition to help save bees and farmers. The closing date to get one mil- lion signatures is September 30th! Save bees and farmers! 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 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 Planner Pro FREE Apple, Andriod Designed for those people who're looking for a full-featured app to manage daily life better. Planner Pro has combine events, tasks and notes in one place so that you do not need to spend extra money for other apps. TECH RETAILERS contact afarrugia@ mediatoday. com.mt A GOOD WEEK FOR Good Week/Bad Week Don't miss this A BAD WEEK FOR The Malta International Air Show Date: 25-26 September Place: Malta International Airport Held annually each September at the Malta International Airport (ex: RAF Luqa) , the Malta International Air Show, one of Malta's largest outdoor events, has gained the well-earned reputation as one of Malta's top outdoor family events. Twenty-five years have elapsed since the very first proper airshow held in Malta and the event has grown both in numbers as well as quality. Marvel. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the 25th movie in the Marvel cinematic universe (MCU) breaks new ground by introducing Simu Liu as its first Asian superhero. Liu says it "an incredible honour" to represent the community on the big screen. Tom Cruise. The actor's films Top Gun: Maverick and Mission: Impossible 7 have been delayed due to a surge in US Covid-19 cases caused by the Delta variant. Movie studios are concerned that the highly contagious variant will deter cinemagoers. Audiences in Malta can watch Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings from 8 September Paramount has pushed the Top Gun sequel to May next year, while Mission: Impossible 7 has been moved from May 2022 to September that year Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member