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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 MARCH 2024 5 ALMANAC Nature Notebook 909. Northern House Martin AFTER a rather mild winter, spring is in the air and birds are on the move. The earliest arrivals from Africa are already being spot- ted, and among these is the delightful northern house martin (M. ħawwiefa). The house martin is a kind of swallow, with the same ba- sic streamlined shape, forked tail and pointed wings, but the house martin's tail is shorter and its body looks slightly chunkier. But the bird is just as graceful and acrobatic, and a flock of a hundred mar- tins circling and twittering above your head are a pleasure to watch. Mind you, the spectacle is not at all for our benefit – they are actual- ly chasing and snapping up mosquitoes from mid-air, which is vital fuel topping-up after a 300km nonstop flight across open sea. A pair or two sometimes stay and nest, but most fly on to mainland Europe. FoE Malta and Ecostack Innovations Launch Project to Protect Reptiles and Amphibians Reptiles and amphibians, collectively referred to as herpetofauna, confront significant challenges on a global scale. The reality of cli- mate change disturbs their body temperatures, and human activities result in habitat loss, leaving them more vulnerable.The project, titled HerpTrust, seeks to address these challenges locally. The project will develop an e-learning course on Human-Herpetofauna Interactions (HHI), providing participants with essential knowledge on conserva- tion and coexistence and producing vocational educational materials for wider dissemination. Additionally, an interactive online tool will be created for countryside managers to access information on local herpe- tofauna species and engage in citizen science projects, contributing to ongoing monitoring and conservation efforts. Victor Falzon, Aron Tanti (photo) www.birdlifemalta.org Green idea of the week 784: Read More here https://foemalta.org/news/herptrust-reptiles-am- phibians/ 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 The Magdalene On April 12, 13, 14 Place: Couvre Porte Counterguard A young woman, Vassallo, becomes involved with a Church leader who advocates for rehabilitation. He shows her that life has purpose again. Together, they try to fight the people in power and become the new face of politics. Vassallo faces many challenges in her journey. However, with the help of Emanuel, she continues to push through and fight to get to the top. Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member APS Holy Week Concert On March 26 Place: St. John's Co-Cathedral Experience Rossini's Stabat Mater: a timeless fusion of music and meaning. Delve into the mother of God's anguish, resonating with contemporary struggles. Join us for a musical exploration of resilience and empathy. Book your tickets now for an unforgettable evening. A GOOD WEEK Good Week/Bad Week A BAD WEEK Adam Sandler's success on Netflix, appearing in and producing three films for the streamer in 2023, contributed to his $73m earnings. That put him above Barbie star Margot Robbie, who at 33 is the youngest person in the top 10 by a decade. The creator of Dragon Ball, one of the most influential and best-selling Japanese comics of all time, has died at 68. Akira Toriyama suffered an acute subdural hematoma, a type of bleeding near the brain, his studio said Friday. Murder Mystery 2 helped make him the best-paid actor in Hollywood last year, according to Forbes magazine. Dragon Ball is hugely popular around the world and the comic series has also spawned cartoon and film versions.