Simar Nature Reserve, Nature reserve in St. Paul's Bay, Malta.
Simar Nature Reserve is a five-hectare wetland area with freshwater pools, reed beds, and walking trails. The site forms an interconnected system of shallow water surfaces and vegetation that attracts various bird species.
The site was an abandoned marsh in the 1980s before BirdLife Malta launched a restoration project in 1992. This systematic recovery transformed the neglected land into a protected natural space.
The name comes from Is-Simar, a Maltese word for sharp rush plants that grow throughout the protected area.
The reserve is open from September through May, with access available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 2 PM until sunset. The limited availability requires planning ahead, especially during the warmer months.
The reserve is Malta's only breeding site for Coots and Little Grebes. Black-winged Stilts first nested here in 2014 and have expanded their presence since then.
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