Visitors to the Għadira Nature Reserve this Sunday will be able to join special guided tours to see a pair of black-winged stilts and their chicks, the first record of this species breeding in the wild in Malta.

BirdLife said that for two weeks in May, a pair of black-winged stilts had been tending and defending a clutch of four eggs on one of the sandy islands at the wetland.

Some days ago, all four eggs hatched and the chicks can now be seen foraging for worms and other invertebrates around the shoreline and islands at the reserve. The adults are very defensive of the young and chase any other birds in the vicinity, including much larger species such as grey herons in defence displays that are worth watching.

Although the nature reserve is normally closed in June, BirdLife will open it between 9 and 11 a.m. this Sunday, when special guided tours will be given. No advance booking is needed and the tours are free of charge.

The black-winged stilt is the latest addition to Malta's list of breeding birds.

Another wader species currently breeding at Għadira is the little ringed plover, which, in the wild also breeds only at this site. This breeding season has also been a successful one for this species, and there are currently five adult pairs and 14 chicks.

Ghadira is managed by BirdLife Malta in agreement with OPM and Mepa. Despite its small size, it is a RAMSAR site and a wetland of international importance.

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