Ghadira Nature Reserve lies behind Mellieha Bay in the north of Malta and is the island's largest wetland managed as a bird sanctuary. It is run by BirdLife Malta and protects a shallow saline pool fringed by tamarisk and reeds.
The reserve is an important resting and feeding site for birds migrating across the Mediterranean, with herons, waders, ducks and the occasional flamingo among the species recorded. Hides and paths let visitors watch the birds without disturbing them.
Ghadira is open to the public on a seasonal basis, usually during the cooler migration months, when wardens and volunteers are on hand to help visitors identify what they see.
