Salina Nature Reserve

Hidden beneath the waters of the Salina wetland, a rare and remarkable plant is making a comeback.

Following habitat restoration carried out two years ago, the Beaked Tassel Pondweed (Ruppia maritima), Ruppja tas-salini in Maltese, is now thriving once again, providing shelter for Mediterranean killifish and supporting wetland birdlife. 🌿💧

Footage: Aron Tanti, Mario V. Gauci, Karl Andrew Micallef and Vera Tokmakova.
Editing: Antonia Micallef.

Three days, thousands of visitors, one shared goal: bringing people closer to nature at AgriFair 2026 🌱

🎥 Footage by Simone Davide Brunori and Clodagh O’Neill
✂️ Edited by Simone Davide Brunori

🌊 March at Salina – time to get to work! 🌿

Each March, as wintering birds depart and before spring migrants begin to arrive, we return to clear the mud, drain the pans, and prepare for a new salt season. 💪🧂

It’s hands-on, it’s hard work - and it helps protect and sustain this unique site.

The winter guests are checking out. 👋

By March, many of the wintering individuals begin leaving Malta and returning north to their breeding grounds in Europe. Safe travels and see you again next winter.

A special morning on 18 February 2026 at the Salina Nature Reserve with residents from Government care homes and day centres as part of the ROOTED project 🌿

Participants enjoyed meditation, crafts and birdwatching 🧘‍♀️🎨🔭 while exploring the beauty of the reserve together.

We were also joined by Malcolm Paul Agius Galea, Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing, who met participants and experienced the activities alongside them.

The morning was marked by thoughtful conversations, shared laughter, and genuine connection with nature 🐦 demonstrating that engagement with the environment has no age limit.

Footage: Antonia Micallef and Vera Tokmakova
Editing: Antonia Micallef



MaltaToday Malta Daily Times of Malta The Malta Independent TVMnews Talk News ONE.com.mt NET News TheShiftNews The Maltese Herald Illum Lovin Malta Gwida.mt Gozo News Network Newsbook Malta

Recently featured on Animal Diaries on TVM, Salina Park Manager Manuel Mallia speaks about the history of wetlands in Malta, how some have been restored over the years, allowing nature to return, while others were unfortunately lost.

BirdLife Malta has played a key role in wetland restoration, and in August was awarded the Environmental Stewardship Award for Voluntary Organisations at the ERA Awards 2025 in recognition of its latest restoration work at Salina wetland.

Animal Diaries is broadcast every Saturday at 6.15pm on TVM. You can also watch it On Demand here: https://tvmi.mt/episode/156767

POV: you leave a camera at Salina… and the gulls take quality control very seriously 👀🐦

Gulls are naturally curious, and while preening keeps their feathers waterproof and ready for life at sea, sometimes a camera just needs investigating 😄🌊

📍 Filmed at Salina Nature Reserve
🎬 Edited by Simone Davide Brunori