Seasonal Changes in Maltese Ecosystems: Observations and Reflections from Seniors

Malta’s climate and wildlife shift between hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. One of the ways of monitoring the changes is recording stories of generations and memorizing how the surroundings look now.

White winter, green spring, buzzing summer and golden autumn... You will not find these seasons in Malta. But Malta’s seasons are more than changes in temperature — they are a living rhythm that shapes everything from the colours of the landscape to the movement of birds across the sky. For older generations, these shifts mark the passing of the year as clearly as any calendar. The scent of almond blossoms in January, the first call of the turtle dove in spring, the quiet buzz of cicadas in summer, or the dark clouds of the first autumn storm — each is part of a shared cultural memory. For older residents, these shifts are deeply personal markers of time, tied to childhood memories, family traditions, and livelihoods.

Malta’s Climate

Malta experiences a Mediterranean climate dominated by two main seasons — hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters — with two short, transitional periods.

Summer (June–mid-September) – Hot and dry, with average highs of 32°C in July and August. Rain is scarce, and landscapes turn golden-brown.
Autumn (mid-September–November) – Transitional, with cooling temperatures and increased rainfall. Storms can be intense.
Winter (December–February) – Mild but wet, with average lows of 15–17°C. This is the period of greenest landscapes.
Spring (March–May) – Warming temperatures and decreasing rainfall bring an explosion of wildflowers and peak bird migration.

Occasional shifts are caused by the Arctic Oscillation, which can make winters warmer or colder than average.

Seasonal Changes: Then and Now

Winter

In past decades, winter rains filled valleys for weeks, and temporary pools lingered well into February. Older residents recall winters when valleys flowed for months, frogs were plentiful, and white wagtails gathered in large numbers. Today, seasonal pools often dry earlier, and some amphibians are less common.

Birds: European robin, white wagtail, grey heron.
Plants: almond blossoms, wild fennel.

Spring

This season brings new life to the land, with fresh growth in fields and hedgerows. Fields come alive with wildflowers, and bird migration peaks. Hoopoes, barn swallows, and turtle doves once arrived in larger numbers; some species are now scarcer. Turtle Dove population decreasing due to pouching.

Birds: Hoopoe, yellow wagtail, barn swallow, European bee-eater and other birds on migration.
Plants: Maltese rock centaury, chamomile.

Summer

Traditionally linked to harvest time, summers were hot but predictable. Seniors note that intense heat often starts earlier now, and droughts feel longer. Wildlife activity is concentrated in cooler dawn and dusk hours.

Wildlife: blue rock thrush, geckos, skinks.
Plants: prickly pear, olives.

Autumn

The first rains signal the return of greenery and mark the raptor migration season. Older generations remember skies filled with honey buzzards over Buskett — still possible today, though numbers vary yearly.

Wildlife: marsh harrier, honey buzzard, osprey and other birds on migration
Plants: cyclamen, early fungi, germinating annuals.

Why Senior Knowledge Matters

Stories from seniors capture ecological patterns before systematic recording began. For example, observations on shifting migration dates, flowering times, or disappearing plant patches can signal climate-driven changes earlier than scientific datasets.

Today, climate change and urbanization threaten to weaken the bond between cycles of nature and traditions and lifestyle of people. Shorter springs, longer summers, and reduced rainfall alter the balance of ecosystems, making the seniors’ testimonies a crucial archive of what once was.

Seasonal Activities for Seniors

The ROOTED project works with care homes and community groups to create seasonal programmes inspired by these natural cycles, for example:

Winter – Indoor herb planting and birdwatching
Spring – Short nature walks to see wildflowers and bird migration.
Summer – Shaded courtyard gardening with drought-resistant plants.
Autumn – Raptor-watching outings and storytelling sessions about past harvests.

A 2019 study in the Oral History Review found that local ecological knowledge can anticipate biodiversity changes up to two decades before scientific monitoring detects them. By documenting seniors’ experiences, we gain both a cultural and a scientific resource — one that can inform conservation strategies and foster intergenerational understanding.

Let’s stay connected with nature and its cycles! Let’s stay ROOTED!

References:

• Cohen, J., & Jones, J. (2011). Nature Geoscience, 4, 25–29.

• Camilleri, L., et al. (2019). Oral History Review, 46(2), 321–339.

• Malta Meteorological Office (2023). Climate of Malta: Annual Summary.

• BirdLife Malta (2024). Seasonal bird migration in the Maltese Islands.