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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 DECEMBER 2021 11 ALMANAC Nature Notebook 792. Common Crane THE common crane (M. grawwa) nests in bogs in remote conifer- ous forests, but that's in spring and summer of course. Come au- tumn, they all fly off to warmer winters, and many sing their auld lang syne in North Africa. As if being large, long-necked, long-leg- ged and broad-winged weren't spectacular enough, cranes also have this habit of migrating in long thin lines, each line sometimes num- bering hundreds of birds! Sadly we very rarely get these mind-bog- gling spectacles in Malta but some stragglers do grace our skies al- most every year around this time. So we're always very envious of those few lucky birdwatchers who excitedly report a flock or two, flying in V-formation. Let's hope we get a few squadrons this year, ideally out of shotgun range. Victor Falzon, Adin Vella www.birdlifemalta.org Green idea of the week 684: Find out more – www.foemalta.org/2101-2/ Project Coordinator (Ref:2102) 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 Don't miss this String Serenades Date: 14 December Place: Casino Maltese, Republic Street, Valletta Eminent Maltese violinist Carmine Lauri leads the MPO Strings in an intimate concert at Casino Maltese featuring an exquisite programme showcasing two iconic serenades for string orchestra, highlighting the brilliance and virtuosity of these instruments. Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member Tosca Date: 15 December Place: Eden Cinemas, St. Georges Bay, St Julians 'Tosca' opera will be broadcast LIVE only at the Eden Cinemas on the 15th of December with an encore on the 19th of January! Into the romantic world of an idealistic painter Cavaradossi and his sensuous lover Tosca comes the malevolence of Baron Scarpia, Chief of Police, with fatal results. Elena Stikina, Bryan Hymel and Alexey Markov bring to life one of the best loved operas in The Royal Opera repertory: Puccini's Tosca. A GOOD WEEK Good Week/Bad Week A BAD WEEK A rare Mickey Mouse money box has sold for more than £5,000 at a toy auction in North Yorkshire. The mechanical item, described by experts as a "fabulously rare, early piece of Disney memorabilia", was made for just a brief period in the 1930s. Rock musician John Miles has died at the age of 72, his family have confirmed. Born in Jarrow, north- east England, he was best known for the epic ballad Music, which reached number three in the UK charts in 1976. The box, which sold for £5,800, had an estimated price of up to £10,000. The star, who later played with Tina Turner, "passed away peacefully after a short illness," his family said.