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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 MARCH 2022 13 ALMANAC Nature Notebook 807. Eurasian Crag Martin LAST week we looked at the spotted crake, a rare bird in Malta. Well, this week's bird is no less scarce. At this time of year millions of birds migrate north from Africa to Europe. Among them is a group of acrobatic fliers we know collectively as hirundines, thousands of which zoom through Malta. Our hirundines usually consist mostly of barn swallows and house martins. But, wheeling with the milling throngs, our eagle-eyed birders sometimes spot a dark brown indi- vidual that, unlike the others, has very little white plumage: a Eura- sian crag martin (M. ħawwiefa tal-blat)! Crag martins are relatively sedentary birds that don't migrate much, so for one to cross 300km of sea and turn up here is unusual. Despite its drab appearance, the crag martin is the hirundine that gets all birdwatchers scrabbling for their binoculars! Victor Falzon, Aron Tanti www.birdlifemalta.org Green idea of the week 695: Order your copy of the Foraging Guide www.foemalta. org/foraging-guide Foraging Booklet The importance of wild plants is regrettably often overlooked with a diverse array of plant life frequently dismissed as just weeds, or ħaxix ħażin. Malta has a range of wild edible flora that are excellent for use in the kitchen. Wild edible plants are healthy because they are full of vitamins, minerals, fibre, antioxidants, and phytochemicals which protect one's body from ageing and pollutants. Our booklet also illustrates how edible plants are beautiful in and of themselves, providing a sign of life. They play a fundamental role in wildlife habitats and ecosystems. Read more about this and other plants to forage by ordering our Foraging Guide on our website! 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 Strawberry Picking Start date: 18 April Place: St. Andrews Farm, Swieqi, Malta Little Elephants and St Andrews Farm are back again to offer you and your little ones the chance to enjoy our Family Strawberry Picking Event. Your little ones will have the chance to walk among the rows of strawberries and hand pick their own box to take home. Each ticket includes a strawberry picking experience, a kilo of strawberries, activity booklet, a craft which they will decorate at the farm and a potted plant to take home. Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member Piazzolla in Concert Start date: 7 April Place: Robert Sammut Hall, Floriana The MPO presents a chamber music concert celebrating Ástor Piazzolla. Internationally-acclaimed pianist Wayne Marshall leads the quintet, a versatile ensemble featuring flute, bandoneon, guitar, contrabass and piano, in this musical journey reflecting the composer's innermost feelings. A GOOD WEEK Good Week/Bad Week A BAD WEEK West Side Story actress Rachel Zegler will attend the Oscars after all, following an outcry when she revealed she had not been invited. Zegler plays Maria in Steven Spielberg's new adaptation of the hit musical, which is nominated for seven prizes at Sunday's Academy Awards. Seven people have been charged after an armed robbery was staged last month on the French film set of hit Netflix series 'Lupin'. Around twenty hooded thieves attacked the film crew by launching fireworks at them, a Netflix spokesperson said. Earlier this week, she said she would watch the ceremony on TV in "sweatpants and my boyfriend's flannel". They stole more than €300,000 worth of equipment during the heist, in broad daylight.