Natural History Wanderings

Lesser Flamingos (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

BBC Nature reports that hundreds of  thousands of Lesser Flamingos,  Phoeniconaias minor, have flocked to Tanzania’s Lake Natron to begin nesting.” This will possibly be the largest breeding event since 2007. 75% or the world population of Lesser Flamingo live in East Africa and nest at Lake Natron.

The success of Flamingo breeding is determined by food supply and water level of the lake. The ideal lake level exposes salt islands in the lake that allow the flamingos to build nests and raise young protected from disturbance by predators.

Lesser Flamingo are rated “near-threatened” on the IUCN Red List.

Read more at:  BBC Nature – Major flamingo breeding event begins on Lake Natron.