Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1474369
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 24 JULY 2022 11 ALMANAC Nature Notebook 824. Common Stingray BEFORE I began snorkelling I used to think stingrays are rare deni- zens of the deep that only the lucky few who dare the depths are likely to see. So when on my first snorkel I spotted a good half dozen of these wonder creatures in a mere 3m of water I was over the moon – yup, no scuba gear required! The common stingray (M. boll komuni) is, as its name indicates, the species a snorkeller is most likely to encounter. Stingrays are closely related to sharks but very different in appearance. Indeed, with their flat deltawing-like body they hardly even look like fish at all! The flattened shape is ideal for a lifestyle of skimming the sandy beds, snuffling for invertebrates to eat. Stingrays are inaggres- sive, peaceful creatures, but all too often fall victim to trigger-happy harpooners who cannot resist such an easy sitting target. Friends of the Earth Malta is hiring! Friends of the Earth Malta (FoEM) is looking for a Communication and Campaigning Volunteer as part of our campaign team. This is a European Solidarity Corp (ERASMUS+/ESC) volunteering for 12 months, ideally starting from August 2022, although this can be nego- tiable. You will be working in collaboration with the FoE Malta team and will be line managed by the Communications Officer and Direc- tor. Travel and accommodation costs will be reimbursed as part of the ESC programme. The deadline to apply is Friday 19th August 2022 Victor Falzon, Desirée Falzon www.birdlifemalta.org Green idea of the week 712: For more information about the vacancies on offer, read here: https://foemalta.org/vacancies/202206/ 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 RitrArti Exhibition 16-31 July Place: Centru Pastorali Sghajtar Charles Vassallo's monochrome photography brought back to life by Silvana Camilleri's artistic touch with her vibrant colours. Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member Joseph Calleja 25th Anniversary Concert 26 July Place: Fort Manoel Opera legend Plácido Domingo will be Joseph Calleja's special guest at the 25th anniversary concert being held in the spectacular Fort Manoel in Malta on July 26. A GOOD WEEK Good Week/Bad Week A BAD WEEK More than 100,000 fans are gathering in San Diego for Comic-Con, a four day celebration of popular culture. Fans are expecting to see the first footage of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the sequel to the 2018 blockbuster. There will also be panels for a new Lord of the Rings TV series and Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon etflix faces a tough fight to keep its crown. It lost almost a million subscribers between April and July as more people decided to quit the service. The streaming giant has now lost members for two quarters in a row, but the drop was smaller than it feared. San Diego Comic- Con is being held over four days from Thursday 21 July - Sunday 24 July. Asked what slowed the exodus, the firm's boss Reed Hastings, said: "If there was a single thing, we might say 'Stranger Things.'"