The avifauna of the Ghadira Nature Reserve

Abstract

The Għadira Nature Reserve covers an area of about six acres of saltmarsh and has a protective, no-shooting zone of SOOm radius around it Excavation work, consisting of the removal of several tons of soil and the formation of islands in an open shallow pool, started in May 1980 and was continued for another three consecutive summers. A ditch was cut around the reserve, except on the seaward side. The soil excavated from the ditch was used to build an embankment running alongside it. The embankment has been successfully planted with Bianca Atriplex halimus on the outer part over-hanging the ditch. Several species of trees, but mostly tamarisk, Tamarix sp., have been planted on and below the embankment. No planting has been carried out on the islands and natural colonisation has been taking place at a fast rate.