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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 7 JULY 2024 5 ALMANAC Nature Notebook 926. Barn Swallow IN recent years the European barn swallow (M. ħuttafa) increased Malta's meagre list of breeding birds. After spending winter 3000km away in central or southern Africa, these intrepid travellers zip back across savannah, desert and sea to go and nest in mainland Europe, stopping here only for a snack and a kip. For several decades that's how we birdwatchers remember them: milling throngs of swallows circling overhead for a few days in spring or autumn, and then be- coming a memory until the following migration. Well, not anymore! Since the early years of the millennium a few pairs have been nesting annually and their population (dare we hope!) is possibly increasing, especially in parts of Gozo. The photo above was taken in Malta only this week and shows a nest with five lusty youngsters virtually ready for their maiden flight. Researching the potential for community energy in Malta A renewable energy community is a group that is legally formed and operates based on voluntary participation. It is controlled by individuals or organizations who are located near renewable energy projects owned by the community. The members of this community can be individuals, small businesses, or local government bodies such as municipalities. The main goal of a renewable energy community is to benefit the environ- ment, economy, and society in the areas where it operates, rather than focusing solely on making financial profits. Victor Falzon, Aron Tanti (Photo) www.birdlifemalta.org Green idea of the week 795 Find out more: https://foemalta.org/blog/students-community-energy/ 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 Freddie: The Show Must Go On 16-18 August Place: Teatru Rjal "Freddie - The Show Must Go On", the most realistic and spectacular tribute show dedicated to Freddie Mercury. After the amazing Sold-Outs the unmissable tour continues. Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member Stephen Schwartz: Defying Gravity 29 September Place: Mediterranean Conference Centre, Broadway comes to Malta! The first of its kind on the Island STEPHEN SCHWARTZ: DEFYING GRAVITY - LIVE IN CONCERT celebrates the most recognizable popular musical theatre songs of our era, with the rare opportunity to spend an evening with the man who wrote them! A GOOD WEEK Good Week/Bad Week A BAD WEEK Boy band behemoth Seventeen have made history at the Glastonbury Festival, by becoming the first K-pop group to play the main Pyramid Stage. Sir Ian McKellen will not appear on the UK tour of his latest theatre production, after he was injured while performing in London. The veteran actor fell off stage last month during a performance of Player Kings at the Noël Coward theatre in London. Pouring onto the stage on Friday afternoon, the 13-piece group delivered an hour of precision choreography and sticky pop melodies to an audience of diehard fans and curious onlookers. In a statement, Sir Ian said he had accepted "with the greatest reluctance" not to take part in the UK tour on medical advice.