Christmas courtship at nature reserve

Courtship displays have started among little grebe, common coot and moorhens at the Simar Nature Reserve, Xemxija, the first breeding rituals witnessed this season.

The courtship displays are the first stage in the breeding process, where the birds identify partners through displays to show off their strength and suitability as mates. BirdLife said that breeding between little grebe and common coot was only recently recorded in Malta.

"The courtship display by the common coot and little grebe is very exciting as they are rare breeding birds, which only breed at the Simar Nature reserve. If the attempts succeed, we could expect a brood of little grebe as early as January," reserve warden Charles Coleiro said.

The Simar reserve in Xemxija and the Għadira nature reserve in Mellieħa are open on weekends between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. until the end of May. Entrance is free and there will be free guided walks for visitors.