Salina Nature Reserve

Salina Nature Reserve lies in the Burmarrad valley mouth (limits of St Paul’s Bay in the north of Malta). Originally a harbour, the Salina site consists of 154,000 square metres of saline marshland and a number of salt pans built on a reclaimed island of clay surrounded by garrigue.

The site has recently been rehabilitated through a €7 million project partially financed with EU funds under the Agricultural Fund for Rural Development 2007-2013. The site’s potential to attract a number of species has been proven repeatedly by birds alighting in the salt pans to rest during migration, among which the most spectacular; the flamingo – a bird synonymous with salt pans, especially in the Mediterranean. Salina is a protected area forming part of the Natura 2000 network and also a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) because of the endemic flora and fauna which can be found in the area.

History

The Salina Salt Pans were constructed by the Knights of St John in the 16^th century. The complex is home to three timber huts which were reconstructed on the same style of the original ones built by the British in the 18^th century for salt production, one of which serves as the visitors’ centre. It also includes the Ximenes Redoubt which was originally developed in 1715/16 during the reign of Grand Master Perellos as part of the Knights’ strategy of defending the Maltese Islands against invasion with a network of coastal fortifications. During the course of the 18^th century, the redoubt was partially converted into a salt magazine. Grand Master Ximenes added a second warehouse to the complex to increase its storage capacity.

Click here to watch a video production about the Salina Rehabilitation Project.

Click here for more historical information about Salina salt pans.

What To Spot

The salt pans at Salina regularly attract a number of species of gull – sometimes as much as 2,000 in a day! This includes species such as Black-headed, Mediterranean, and Audouin’s.

Sandwich Terns can be seen almost every day and occasionally rarer species of tern such Gull-billed and Caspian.

During the winter period, Common Sandpipers can be observed at the reserve whilst migration brings herons, egrets and very rarely a Greater Flamingo!

New wetland area and birdwatching/photography hide

We have now opened the restored wetland area found on the Kennedy Grove side of Salina. You can book a slot at the new birdwatching hide in this area!

The small hide, which can take three people at any one time is available every Tuesday and Thursday from 11am to 5pm (last booking at 4:30pm).

Booking can be done only at the gate which is located next to the swings on the Kennedy Grove side, with a 30-minute slot costing €1 for BirdLife Malta members and €2.50 for non-members. A longer booking of one hour costs €2 for BirdLife Malta members and €5 for non-members.

In order to give everyone a chance to enjoy the site, no one can book slots longer than one hour.