Birdlife Malta has explained that the low water levels at the Ghadira Nature Reserve are normal for this time of the year and that the saline water pool is actually thriving.

The organization was reacting to pictures, published earlier this week in The Malta Independent, which showed that the water at the nature reserve was drying up and had turned a yellowish colour.

Birdlife Malta’s Nature Reserves Manager Mark Gauci said: “The water levels, despite being low, are normal for this time of the year. In the summer months the water level decreases through evaporation; this is actually beneficial to the avifauna species present at this time of the year at the reserve.”

He explained that a particular group of birds - the waders - feed on molluscs and insects found in the ensuing mud flats.

“The yellow colouring evidenced in the photo is the result of the high concentration of salt in the water within the reserve. In summer in fact the water becomes hyper saline, meaning the water has a high concentration of salt.  What is fascinating is that despite these seemingly harsh conditions the pool is still rich in the number of fish, shrimps and molluscs that are adapted to living in brackish conditions (meaning water with high level of salt content in summer and closer to fresh water in winter).”