Ghadira Nature Reserve has announced the birth of chicks belonging to the Little Ringed Plover species! This type of bird can be identified by their distinctive black and white head pattern, along with the yellow rings circling their eyes. Their movements seem particularly clumsy due to their long legs compared to their relatively small body.

A video posted by the nature reserve show the mother plover sheltering her young under her wings. She usually keeps the chicks in proximity for the first few weeks after their birth, while they are still small and clumsy. After some time, they slowly begin to venture off on their own, while still seeking out their mother for protection until they are capable of flying themselves.

This type of bird can be spotted at both the Simar and Ghadira Nature Reserves at the Salina Saltpans and on shores around the island. They are known to breed at the Ghadira Nature Reserve between April and August, and have done so annually since 1995, creating a healthy growing population with an average of 6 pairs each year.

Have you ever seen a Little Ringed Plover?