Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/376810
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER 2014 38 THIS WEEK For reasons of geography, ecology and other factors (not least human activity), birds can be common or rare. For Malta, the Grey Plover (M: Pluviera Griza) is one of the less common visitors, occurring in small numbers in spring and autumn. They usually stop by while on their marathon journeys north to the arctic tundra to breed, or south to tropical Africa, where many of them spend the winter. Many others, especially males, spare themselves the terrible Sahara crossing and do their winter stint in the lands around the Mediterranean. Some try to do this in Malta too but the Grey Plover's name is on that fateful list of birds considered fair quarry for our hunters to vent their passions on, so any plover stopping here for the winter generally also stops for good. As the name suggests, Grey Plovers are not particularly colourful but despite the monochrome palette they still sport an eye-catching pattern, as did the one that turned up at Ghadira nature reserve some days ago. Luckily it landed in a well-protected site, so after a few days' rest it safely took o to resume its trip south. 420. GREY PLOVER GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 322: STORING FRUITS – Our refrigerators tend to become dumping grounds for all sorts of foods, some that don't require and shouldn't be refrigerated. These fruits should not be stored in a fridge: avocados, apricots, bananas, oranges, kiwi fruit, Melons, nectarines, pears, peaches, plums, pineapple and tomatoes. The honey bee is probably the best-known bee around, but there are actually over 25,000 species of bees worldwide. Honey bees and bumblebees live socially, led by a queen and serviced by male drones and female worker bees. Solitary bees tend to be smaller and their family unit is made up of a single pair. Although lots of solitary bees can be found in one area, they operate alone. Bumblebees are distinguished by their large furry bodies and species include the black and-yellow striped Garden Bumblebee and Red-tailed Bumblebee. Solitary bees include mason bees, leaf cutting bees and mining bees. The Wool-carder Bee strips hair from plants to weave its nest, while the Red Mason Bee lives inside hollow plant stems and holes in wood. You might have heard about the serious problems our honey bees are facing, but many wild bumblebees and solitary bees are also declining at an alarming rate all over the world. Around two thirds of the Maltese bee population was wiped out in the 90's due to a mite infestation. The introduction of non-native bee species is also a cause of concern since they can harbour diseases and lead to the loss of valuable traits currently found in native populations. Bees and Bumblebees Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as for information about how to join us www.foemalta.org. You can also support us by sending a blank SMS donation on 50618070 (€4.66) or 50619223 (€11.65). Text Victor Falzon Photo Aron Tanti FAA screen Malta-set adventure film 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of the filming of Treasure in Malta. The first theatrical film completely shot in Malta with an all-Maltese cast, Treasure in Malta is noth- ing short of a time capsule and an evocative testament to the beauty of the Maltese Islands. Unfortunately, it also is a striking document of how the Maltese landscape has changed in the past half century. For those who would like to see the film, an open-air screening of this classic 1963 Malta adventure will take place at Villa Bologna in Attard (pictured) on September 13 at 18:30. The event is a fundraising activity for Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar. At a time when Malta was adver- tised for its sun, unspoilt seas and countryside, friendly people and rich historical and cultural heritage, the Malta Government Tourist Board ingeniously foresaw the benefits of promoting what the Maltese Islands had to offer through film. Arrange- ments were thus made with the Chil- dren's Film Foundation (CFF) for a film of theirs to be made in Malta. CFF films were being shown in over 30 countries and dubbed in a dozen different languages, so it is hardly surprising to learn that the Maltese Government agreed to support the film. In return for this support, the film company agreed that all the cast would be Maltese and the name of the film would be changed from By Jiminy (or The Golden Calypso – another working title) to Treasure in Malta. Furthermore, the selected story which would see three kids chased across the Maltese Islands, gave the location scouts the perfect excuse to put on show all the finest scenes and views the islands could offer. Too many to mention, the locations used all portrayed the idyllic beauty of the Maltese Islands. From the beau- ty of Ramla l-Ħamra seen from afar, to the quaint villages in Gozo, the majestic cities of Valletta and Mdi- na, the mysterious temples at Ħaġar Qim or the catacombs of St Paul, the Carnival scenes in Rabat or the busy market scene in Paola, all success- fully produce a series of postcards that surely left an impact on the film viewers, both young and old. Treasure in Malta stars Marylu Coppini, Aidan Mompalao de Piro and Mario Debono as the three kids. Other Maltese established actors included Joseph Mompalao de Piro, Charles Thake, Guido Saliba, Vanni Riolo, Joe Zammit Cordina and others in minor roles. Directed by Derek Williams, Treasure in Malta was first screened in the UK in July 1963, in an episodic form over a pe- riod of six weeks. In Malta, the film was premiered in November 1963 as a complete 80-minute film. Surpris- ingly, the film has only been shown on local television on one occasion in the early 90s after the necessary rights were negotiated for a one time screening. Unfortunately as things stand at the time of writing, the only possibility of viewing this film is by getting hold of one very poor boot- leg copy that has been in circulation among film enthusiasts. As the The British Film Institute recently ac- quiring the worldwide rights to the Children's Film Foundation (CFF) collection, there is hope that these films will be properly preserved in the BFI National Archives and even- tually also given a decent DVD re- lease. For more information please visit www.faa.org.mt or send an email to: bookings@faa.org.mt.