Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1528159
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 2O OCTOBER 2024 5 ALMANAC Nature Notebook 941. Merlin WHEN we say birds of prey we often think of eagles, and that would be quite correct. But we mustn't forget the falcons: smaller, sleeker, faster, deadlier! Falcons (M. isqra) too feature on the list of birds we see as they migrate between Europe and Africa. So far 11 falcon spe- cies have been recorded in Malta, including the famous peregrine (or Maltese falcon), which is one of the larger falcons. At the other end of the size scale is the merlin (M. seqer ta' denbu), roughly the size of a pigeon. Unlike some other falcons – like kestrel and hobby – the merlin is relatively scarce, but seen every year, mostly in autumn. Being so small, its prey consists of small birds, which they catch in flight. Comino Treasure Hunt Join us for an exciting Environmental Treasure Hunt on the beautiful island of Comino as part of the Embrace Nature project! Learn about the island's rich biodiversity while participating in chal- lenges designed to help you connect with the environment in a playful way. For participants traveling from Malta, feel free to reach out to us to arrange your transport. Come, discover, and celebrate nature in a way that's both educational and enjoyable. We look forward to seeing you there! What to Expect: Explore Comino's unique nature, history, and culture through a fun, interactive treasure hunt. Victor Falzon, Aron Tanti (photo) www.birdlifemalta.org Green idea of the week 805 Register here: https://foemalta.org/event/comino-treasure/ Don't miss this Ghost Hunt at the Airport 1 November Place: Malta International Airport Bring your little ones for an unforgettable experience, where you can enroll your kids in a 30-minute ghost-busting quest…and candy. Armed with a Ghost Hunt map, they'll explore various outlets throughout the airport, searching for friendly ghosts hiding in each location. Throughout the event, our lively mascot and talented animators will entertain and guide the children as they navigate their spooky mission until their map is complete. Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member Beethoven Ninth 3 November Place: Mediterranean Conference Centre To mark the anniversary of its first performance, Resident Conductor Michael Laus leads the MPO with members from the MYO in Beethoven's iconic Symphony No. 9. The composer's final symphony, featuring vocal soloists and chorus, was the first of its kind. Based on Schiller's Ode to Joy, it celebrates universal brotherhood. International soloists join The New Choral Singers and Goldberg Ensemble. A GOOD WEEK Good Week/Bad Week A BAD WEEK Gary Oldman is to return to the theatre where he began his career, for his first stage role since the late 1980s. The Oscar-winning actor will star in Samuel Beckett's Krapp's Last Tape at York Theatre Royal next April. Liam Payne, the former One Direction star, has died aged 31 in Argentina after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, police say. In a statement, police said they discovered Payne's body after an emergency crew responded to an call in the upscale neighbourhood of Palermo on Wednesday. Oldman started out at the venue in 1979 in plays like Privates on Parade and She Stoops to Conquer - as well as playing the cat in the pantomime Dick Whittington that Christmas. On Thursday, police in Buenos Aires said a preliminary autopsy suggests Liam Payne died from external and internal bleeding injuries.