Amongst the menagerie of ecosystems present at Dwejra, the cliffs – whilst stunning to the eye – are the most perilous for life forms to thrive in, as they are constantly under the attack of sea spray, and have to take the brunt of the wind. By their very nature, they are a vertical environment which makes it difficult for plants to fasten themselves securely. Moreover, soil is scarce, as is water. And yet, at these sites we find beautiful examples of endemic plants such as Maltese Everlasting and Maltese Cliff Orache.
Birds such as Scopoli’s Shearwater and Yelkouan Shearwater make these cliffs their home – and it is a magical experience to venture to Dwejra at night and listen to their haunting, eerie cries. Encroaching light pollution is a threat to these birds, as they can become confused and disorientated by bright light, a behaviour that was also witnessed on site by the author himself.