Birdlife volunteers at Għadira Nature Reserve yesterday caught the first glimpses of the newest arrivals to the protected wetland: three black-winged stilt chicks hatched from one of the three nests in the reserve this year.

The hatched chicks immediately made off to the water’s edge, getting their toes wet for the first time.

Staff at the reserve expect the remaining eggs, which are being incubated by the second and third pairs of stilts, to hatch over the coming week.

This is only the second year on record that these wading birds have bred in the Maltese islands. One pair had successfully raised three chicks in Għadira in 2011.

“It is possible that some of the birds breeding in the reserve this year are those that hatched here two years ago, which is a very nice thought,” said Birdlife Malta nature reserves manager Mark Gauci.

“We all hope that this will be the start of having a new regular breeding bird in Malta.”

Other birds that have established themselves as regular breeders in the reserves include the little ringed plover at Għadira and the little grebe at Simar.

“These birds breed nowhere else in the Maltese islands, which really shows the value of establishing nature reserves and restoring habitats for wildlife,” said Birdlife executive director Steve Micklewright.

A public event will be held at the reserve during the last weekend of June. Għadira will open from 8.30am to 10.30am on June 29 and 30 and reserve staff and volunteers will be organising guided walks, including a black-winged stilt-watching activity in the bird-watching hide.

Space on the guided walks will be limited, so booking via the Birdlife Malta office is essential. E-mail: office@birdlifemalta.org.