Four black-winged stilts have hatched for the first time at the Simar Nature Reserve in Xemxija, Birdlife said.

BirdLife Malta’s Reserves Manager, Mark Gauci, said “we have been waiting in anticipation to see if the eggs would hatch, and to have all four chicks hatch successfully is brilliant. This is great progress; not only for Is-Simar and BirdLife, but for all of Malta”.

The black-winged Stilt is a long-legged wader, which can easily be identified by its black and white body, with bright pink legs. It uses these distinctive legs to help it wade into deeper wetland areas, where it feed on small fish and crustaceans, swiping them from the waters surface with its long, black bill.

Black-winged Stilts have also bred for the third year at Għadira Nature Reserve in Mellieħa.

Birdlife said that this success comes as a result of meticulous planning to ensure the ideal habitat was created.

Despite its small size Is-Simar wetland reserve has already witnessed several new breeding species to the Maltese islands including the little bittern, the little grebe and more recently the common coot.

Is-Simar wetland is also home to a variety of other species of fauna like the rare killifish, and diverse flora, such as the sharp rush which gives the reserve its name.

Executive director Steve Micklewright said that with more reserves in other parts of Malta and Gozo, much more could be done to help black-winged stilts and other Maltese wildlife thrive.

“The salt pans at Salina are now reaching the end of their restoration and could be managed so that these very special birds could breed there too.”

Is-Simar reserve is closed to the public until November 2014.