Feral flamingos at northeasten Alps foothills

Jana

Jana

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
Many people are well aware about the long-time existence of a small breeding flamingo group existing on german/dutch border. Since 1970s, escaped captive flamingos formed a group of about 50 birds (ca 35 Chileans, ca 10 Greater, 1 Caribbean and a few hybrids), that breed in a large gull colony in Zwillbrocker Venn reserve and winters at dutch sea coastline.

But the german feral flamingo population is larger than that. Another place where you can regularly observe exotic flamingos are different lakes and wetlands at northeastern Alps foothills, in Bayern/Bavaria and northwestern Austria. Chiemsee, Forggensee, Röttelsee or Innauen and other places are frequently visited.

The group that moves hier consists of at least 6 birds right now (1 ruber/chilensis hybrid, 1 roseus and 4 chilensis), they disperse as pairs or individuals during summer, but form a group during winter. No rings were found so that exact origin of each bird is unclear. One pair (hybrid + chilensis) is beeing observed for atleast 15 years, they spend summer mostly in a gull colony in Innauen and even lay eggs there in last years, but without chicks so far (two females probably?). There has been observed so far no chick/young bird anywhere in this region, but the group slowly grows, probably by new escapees from private collections. Last winter, there was a 5-group, this winter there are 6.

What will future bring for this group? Will it grow and start to breed succesfully? Will it be eradicated as feral population? Will it be wipped out by returning native white-tailed eagles and other raptors? Is this a sign that flamingos were maybe a part of native fauna in some parts of central Europe and went extinct by human activies in some historic times? Or have humans artificially created here a flamingo-friendly landscape, unlike past times?

photo Andreas Hartl
Chiemseeagenda
AktNatBeo-131222-ah-Flamingo__2_.jpg
 
zooboy28 said:
Are these birds (either colony) protected at all?
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Greater flamingos are native and protected by law in all mentioned countries (status - vagrant).

Exotic species and hybrids have no legal protection. Swiss laws require eradication of invasive species and chileans that cross their borders are shot within days. In other countries (Germany, Holland, Austria), hunters and nature rangers tolerate them in most cases.

Active protected by humans is the breeding island in Zwillbrocker Venn. After fox visits, hotwire has been installed around it. It should mainly protect thousands of gull pairs and many other waterbirds that nest there and flamingos profit fromit too.
 
Feral flamingos

I am appalled at the Swiss. Flamingos are not known for adverse affects on native wildlife. Given the financial value of a flamingo, one might think they could catch and re-home any that cross their borders.
How would this affect the full-winged birds in the Basel Zoo colony, I wonder?
 
FBBird said:
I am appalled at the Swiss. Flamingos are not known for adverse affects on native wildlife. Given the financial value of a flamingo, one might think they could catch and re-home any that cross their borders.
How would this affect the full-winged birds in the Basel Zoo colony, I wonder?
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Basel zoo keeps only Greater flamingos that are fully protected species, so they are safe.

But Zürich zoo lost one Chilean 4 years ago. It was their only raised chick in 10 years or so and was celebrated in local newspapers, but it managed to escape in its second or third winter without the keepers noticing anything for at least 2 weeks. It was found at a Swiss Flachsee by local people and it started a proces of "what will we do with the bird?" The local huntering society contacted all nearby zoos and asked - are you missing a young Chilean? Zürich made a quick count of their flock and answered - no. At the end, hunters shoot the bird. The corpse had 2 metal rings, with "Zürich zoo" and a number and so the bird could be easily identified as this celebrated offspring. If Zürich keepers made a better count or if their flamingos had Darvic rings with codes, it could be maybe prevented. Zürich has had no other chicks since then (at least there was nothing publicised).
 
There are more escaped groups in Europe. One is up to 6 Lesser Flamingos in Dutch Friesland. Interesting is the ability of escaped flamingos to find other escapees.

Chilean and Carribbean flamingos were observed displaying in wild colonies in the Mediterranean, so this is perhaps a danger for European flamingo population by hybridization.

I don't understand why escaped flamingos are not caught and re-homed to zoos. Especially in case of Zwillbrocken collony, where chicks are ringed and released. Actually, many adult flamingos could probably be traced to their owners, because of the rings or transponders.
 
Lessers seem to be less suitable to survive long term in C Europe, the sightings in Holland indicated up to 7 Lessers few years ago, but the number dwindled to 1 or 2 last year. If they died or moved elsewhere (south?), no idea.

Captive population in Europe is way over 10,000 flamingos I guess, a few escapees a year are unavoidable. On the other hand, wild Greater flamingo population in Mediterranien exceeds 250.000 birds and rapidly grows (this year, a flock of 1,000 tried to breed even in Montenegro). Some 50 or so feral exotic flamingos don´t pose much danger I would say. Even if all feral ones would be removed right now, flow of new captive escapees won´t be stopped.

Fresh escapees are not so difficult to be recovered, desoriented and with untrained flights. But adult birds in perfect condition, that survived maybe 40 years out there on their own, very caucious and with knowledge of the landscape and unaccessible spots - good luck in catching them.

The Zwillbrock´s colony is very loved by local people and a keystone for tourism and "image" of the region. Eradication seems to be not acceptable politically and would cause economical losses. Nature protection officers would probably discredit themselves in eyes of general public and lose support for other wildlife programs if they would even propose this step.

So what other solution is there?
 
Quick update:

A first wild flamingos chick hatched in Bavaria 8 weeks ago!

One flamingo pair (Chilean female and Chilean/Carribean male) finaly succeeded. they have been laying egs for a few years, but only now they have a viable offspring.

Parents and chick can be found in Groser Rötelseeweiher by Cham, close to German/Czech border.

I cant wait till winter, when all bavarian flamingos will congregate on Alpinian lakes, to see the total count. Who knows, maybe another pair could be sucessfull too, with our hot and dry summer of 2015.
 
Feral Flsmingos.....

How big is this colony, and is there any relationship to the Zwillbrocker Venn group?
 
Feral flamingos...

Interesting that such a small group can breed, contrary to received wisdom on flamingo culture. I know of a group of six Chileans in a UK collection that reared a chick.
 
Yep. Chileans seem to be the least demanding species in terms of colony size.

These flamingos built nest in a large gull colony. This could help too, the presence of colonial birds, plus water full of nutrients might tip the scale for them.
 
Feral flamingos.......

I have an idea that flamingos need 'something' around them in order to feel secure enough to best. In the wild, that would usually be a lot of other flamingos. The same function might be served by large numbers of any colonials nesting birds in the right habitat, or in captivity, even by the walls of a shed; some flamingos, and many Pelicans, breed in comparatively confined winter accommodation.
Many thanks for all the flamingo discussion!
 
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