Collection of news about wild flamingos

It’s a new year and with the nearing of summer I thought I’d look for updated flamingo news from Turkey.

First news is from 16th of March when flamingoes have started to arrive at Tuz lake. The number of arrivals has not been mentioned.

Flamingolar Tuz Gölü'nde

Flamingoes have also been seen by the Akkaya dam by Niğde on this article published in the third of April. Unfortunately there isn’t a given number for observed animals on this article either.

https://www.cnnturk.com/seyahat/gal...nda-ziyaretcilerden-yogun-ilgi-2103411?page=3

In the Eber Lake from Afyonkarahisr Province, it is estimated that 5 thousand flamingoes have settled down while the numbers were around 300-500 last month.

Flamingolar Eber’de mola verdi - Son Dakika Haberleri
https://www.gazete3.com.tr/flamingolar-eberde-mola-verdi/?amp=1
Ever since the Nehil Marshes of Hakkari province was designated as a “sensitive area to be protected” flamingoes have been spotted for the first time per this article published in March 29. No detail has been given on the flock size.

Yüksekova'nın Nehil Sazlığı'nda Flamingo Sürprizi

Unfortunately this isn’t a bright way to finish things off, but the Gediz Delta in Izmir is under threat with two drilling projects for geothermal energy. While the project was previously denied by the Regional Commission for protection of Appendix II Natural Resources, the company has won the suit which it requested the appeal of the decision. It has also been decided by the court that the “an analysis of the effects on the environment is not necessary.”

Flamingoların yaşam alanına sondaj
 
Flamingo chicks hatched in Bulgaria for the first time ever (after failed attempt last year). Congrats!

First greater flamingo chicks hatched in Bulgaria's Atanasovsko lake near Bourgas

For the first time in Bulgaria, three greater flamingos hatched in Atanasovsko Lake near the coastal city of Bourgas, ornithologist and representative of the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds Dr. Petar Yankov said. The announcement came on the eve of the 44th anniversary of the declaration of the lake as a protected reserve.

"Our monitoring started on 16 June, when the baby flamingos were about one week old. They were moving around the adults in a colony consisting of about 45 nests," Dr. Yankov explained.

According to him, the nesting colony first formed in July last year. Due to the late formation of the colony, the flamingos did not have the biological time to raise their young, the expert explained. "Usually, the chicks hatch in May so that they can grow up within three or four months before they fly off on their own and before the colder months," he clarified.

According to the ornithologist, the hatching of the three chicks flamingos is a sign that Lake Atanasovo is perceived as a safe home for the colony.
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First greater flamingo chicks hatched in Bulgaria's Atanasovsko lake near Bourgas - Българска национална телевизия

Flamingo colony at lake Tinsilt in Algeria endangered by drought

Baby flamingos saved from drought-decimated lake in Algeria

Around 300 pink flamingo chicks were rescued by volunteers in eastern Algeria after the salt lake where they hatched dried up following years of high temperatures and drought.

Thousands of flamingos migrate each year to nest in Lake Tinsilt, located around 450 kilometres (about 280 miles) southeast of the capital Algiers.

It is one of the largest wetlands in the country, with an area of more than 20 square kilometres.

"Barely a month ago there was water here," volunteer Mourad Ajroud told AFP on Friday, pointing to what is now a vast expanse of cracked earth littered with the carcasses of dead birds.

The disappearance of the lake, which locals and Algerian media attribute to high temperatures and a years-long drought, has driven the adult flamingos away.
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They left behind their unhatched eggs and defenceless chicks, dozens of which have died from hunger, thirst, poaching and wolf attacks.

A group of volunteers provided their cars and trucks to transfer 283 pink flamingos about 50 kilometres away to Lake Mahidiya, about 50 kilometres away.

The wetland near Ain Mlila remains flush thanks to a steady flow of water from nearby rivers and lakes.

The rescue operation was initiated by local amateur photographer Tarek Kawajlia, who documents the wildlife in his area, and noticed the decrease in the size of the lake and the flight of birds.

The volunteers carry out "morning and evening patrols to follow the chicks until they recover and are able to fly, so that they can return next year to the sabkha (marsh) and life can resume its normal course," Kawajlia told AFP.

Ajroud, 53, said the group was not able to save all the birds.

"We couldn't transport them all," he said sadly, as another volunteer takes an injured bird to a veterinary clinic.

A few hours after the chicks were released at their new habitat, some adult birds joined them.

"The operation was successful and the parents found their little ones in a magnificent scene," Kawajlia said in a comment on one of his photos posted to Facebook.

Lake Tinsilt is one of the around 50 bodies of water in Algeria declared wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar international environment treaty to protect wetlands.
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Baby flamingos saved from drought-decimated lake in Algeria

Fuente de Piedra colony failed again due to drought

Drought crisis leaves Fuente de Piedra lake with no flamingos to ring again

The spring rains in Malaga province were sadly not enough to support the colonies that usually flock there to nest and of the barely 40 chicks that did hatch, not one survived.

It is in its fortieth anniversary year, but not even this reason for celebration has allowed it to keep up appearances. The flamingo-ringing festival returned to the Laguna de Fuente de Piedra in the north of Malaga province two years ago after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic and the lack of water. The event turns this large, wetland and so-called lake into a gathering of coordinators, volunteers and, of course, the hatchlings from 5 o'clock in the early hours of the morning to carry out the ringing. The scenario for this traditional activity, which began in 1986, is key to counting the number of flamingo chicks - more than 3,700 on that last occasion - in order to obtain information for better management of the flamingo colonies that call this home. This activity was in great demand and, every year that it could be carried out, more than 400 people would be authorised to take part in the ringing. However, like last year, this summer the nature reserve will not host a ringing event, as the drought has left the Laguna de Fuente de Piedra Nature Reserve with no ringing possible for the second consecutive year.

Three months ago the reserve's director, África Lupión, confirmed to SUR that the spring rains had been enough to welcome some 12,000 flamingos to the wetland area that, together with the hope placed in the spring rains for more rain, created the unfortunate expectation that the traditional ringing activities could return this summer. However, although the rains at the end of March made the arrival of the adult flamingos possible, it then did not rain again, so the water levels necessary for nesting were not maintained.

"These rains resulted in a water level of 30 centimetres, just about enough for the colony, so they tried to breed, but rainfall was scarce and there was no success, so the colony was abandoned and of the barely 40 chicks that did hatch, not one survived," said Lupión.
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Drought crisis leaves Fuente de Piedra lake with no flamingos to ring again | Sur in English

Zwillbrocker Venn feral colony had rather poor year with just 3 chicks ringed
Flamingos sind flügge - auf Wiedersehen in Zwillbrock!

The young flamingos have fledged and "moved" to the Netherlands.

Since the 1980s, flamingos have been coming to the Zwillbrocker Venn for breeding, raising their young and spending the winter months in the Netherlands. The Institut für Vogelforschung at the "Vogelwarte Helgoland" carries out the ringing of our flamingos, and this year we were able to ring three animals.
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Flamingos sind flügge - auf Wiedersehen in Zwillbrock!: Biologische Station Zwillbrock
 
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