[Sca-cooks] Flamingos

[Phlip]

Well, I hadn't looked into flamingos much up until now, although I was aware
of there being an African species, so I looked them up on the www, and found
this site:

http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/Flamingos/fhabitat.html

It says:

II. Habitat and Distribution.

A. Distribution.

1. All flamingos are found in tropical and subtropical areas.

2. Populations of Chilean flamingos are found in central Peru, both coasts
of southern South America (mainly in the winter), Argentina, Uruguay,
Paraguay, and southern Brazil. Stragglers have been reported on the Falkland
Islands.

3. The lesser flamingo is primarily an African species. Populations are
found in eastern, southwestern, and western Africa. Also, a sizable
population nests in India. Stragglers can be found as far north as southern
Spain.

4. The James' flamingo has the most restricted range of all flamingo
species. They are found in southern Peru, northeastern Chile, western
Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina.

5. Andean flamingos are found in southern Peru, north-central Chile, western
Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina.

6. Populations of Caribbean flamingo are limited to Yucatan, parts of the
West Indies, Bahamas, Galapagos Islands, and the northernmost tip of South
America.

7. The greater flamingo has the most widespread distribution of all flamingo
species. Populations are found in northwest India, the Middle East, the
western Mediterranean, and Africa. Limited numbers of this species can be
found over much of northern Europe, eastward to Siberia.

B. Habitat.

1. The flamingo's most characteristic habitats are large alkaline or saline
lakes or estuarine lagoons that usually lack vegetation. Lakes may be far
inland or near the sea.

2. A variety of habitats are used by flamingos: mangrove swamps, tidal
flats, and sandy islands in the intertidal zone.

3. The presence or absence of fish may have a great influence on the use of
lakes by some flamingos.

a. The Chilean flamingo is scarce or absent in lakes with fish. It is
present, usually in large numbers, where there are no fish with which to
compete for food.

b. The introduction of fish to some lakes may seriously affect the
distribution of the Chilean flamingo as well as the greater and Caribbean
flamingos, since they all feed primarily on invertebrates. Other flamingo
species are not affected because of different food sources.

C. Migration.

1. Flamingos are generally non-migratory birds. However, due to changes in
the climate and water levels in their breeding areas, flamingo colonies are
not always permanent.

a. Populations that breed in high-altitude lakes, which may freeze over in
the winter, move to warmer areas.

b. When water levels rise, birds may search for more favorable sites.

c. Drought conditions may force some flamingo populations to relocate.

2. Most flamingos that migrate will return to their native colony to breed.
However, some may join a neighboring colony.

3. When flamingos migrate, they do so mainly at night. They prefer to fly
with a cloudless sky and favorable tailwinds. They can travel approximately
600 km (373 miles) in one night at about 50 to 60 kph (31-37 mph). When
traveling during the day, the flamingos fly at high altitudes, possibly to
avoid predation by eagles.

4. The movements of the greater flamingo population living in Carmarque in
southern France have been closely monitored since 1977.

a. Most of the birds leave in September, but some are sedentary and stay
through the winter.

b. Most flamingos that leave the colony go either southwest to winter in
Spain, or southeast to winter in Tunisia and Turkey.

c. The percentage of birds that travel east or west seems to depend on the
direction of the prevailing winds in the birds' first autumn.

Phlip


Never a horse that cain't be rode,
And never a rider who cain't be throwed....