Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/483475
XV maltatoday, Sunday, 22 March 2015 This Week One bird I look out for at this time of year is the wheatear (full name Northern Wheatear, to distinguish it from many other wheatear species in the region). It's a small, slender, smart-looking bird with largely grey and black upperparts and pale buff underparts, especially attractive at this time as they will be in their breeding plumage. The wheatear is a creature of open spaces so the place to see it is a stroll in our rocky areas. But you won't spot a wheatear unless it chooses to move, as the bird blends so well with the patchwork of fissured, lichen-covered rocks. But once it flies it gives the game away, because it flashes its conspicuous black-and-white tail. That tail not only gave the bird its Maltese name kuda (from Italian coda for tail) but also its English name: you see, the word wheatear has nothing to do with ears of wheat, it's actually a corruption of white-*rse if you'll excuse the language! Like many millions of birds, wheatears are now migrating north across the Mediterranean to their nesting grounds. The ones we see in Malta will not be nesting here, only resting a day or two – if we are civilised enough to let them, that is – before resuming their perilous trip to mainland Europe. Just 20 days to the spring hunting referendum. If you care about birds GO and vote NO! 446. NORTHERN WHEATEAR GREEN IdEa of THE wEEk 349: We're hiring – FoE Malta currently has two job vacancies available – click here for more information http://tinyurl.com/foemaltajobs The referendum will not result in a total ban on hunting in Malta. It only seeks to abolish spring hunting, which scientists have identified as being the most damaging to birds. Maltese hunters will still be able to hunt birds in autumn for five months, from September to January. They are permitted to shoot every day for these five months, including Sundays and Public holidays, such as christmas day. during the autumn season, hunters may shoot 41 different species of birds, and in unlimited numbers. Furthermore hunters may also hunt rabbits in June, July and august. 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 Isn't it unfair on hunters to stop spring hunting? More human than human? University science-themed film screenings start with Gattaca Too human for comfort: Alicia Vikander The much-talked about science fiction film Ex Machina will be screened at St James Cavalier in Valletta over the coming week and early April. Alex Garland, writer of 28 Days Later and Sunshine, makes his directorial debut with the st ylish and cerebral thriller, Ex Machina. Caleb Smith (Dom- hnall Gleeson), a programmer at an internet-search giant, wins a competition to spend a week at the private mountain estate of the company's brilliant and reclusive CEO, Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac). Upon his arrival, Caleb learns that Nathan has chosen him to be the human component in a Turing Test – charging him with evaluating the capabilities, and ultimately the consciousness, of Nathan's latest experiment in artificial intelligence. That experiment is Ava (Alicia Vikander), a breath- taking A.I. whose emotional intelligence proves more sophis- ticated – and more deceptive – than the two men could have imagined. Ex Machina will be screened at the St James Cavalier cinema on March 25 at 21:00, April 4 at 15:00 and April 12 at 20:00. Entrance is at €6.50 with €5 concessions. Bookings: 2122 3200, boxoffice@sjcav.org As the debut event for 'CineXjenza', a screening and discussion of the film Gattaca will be organised at St James Cavalier Cinema on March 28 at 15:00. CineXjenza aims to spark debates about scientific topics in films. The first screening will be Gattaca, a film about a future society where potential children are conceived through genetic manipula- tion to ensure they possess the best hereditary traits of their parents. Our guest experts, Prof. Pierre Mallia and Dr Edward Duca (Univer- sity of Malta) will be leading a discussion after the film. A debate will question whether these innovations and advances are realistic and if they would be possible today. The discussion will be mediated by a guest speaker with expertise in the area to allow us to explore different facets of science together. The event is organised by the S-Cubed – Science Students' Society (S-Cubed), in collaboration with the Malta Chamber of Scientists and St James Cavalier, and supported by Faculty of Science Cente- nary Celebrations. Entrance to the screening is free Genetic: Ethan Hawke