The greater flamingo was considered an exotic species for Bulgaria, but for several years, entire colonies have chosen the lakes around Burgas as their residence. Currently, more than 450 flamingos inhabit the Burgas wetlands. The birds are not at all bothered by the cold, ornithologists say. However, their number has decreased significantly after the migration at the end of the summer, when more than 4,000 birds of this species were observed near Burgas.
It turns out that 2024 was “landmark year” for the graceful creatures. In June, the first hatched generation of greater flamingos in this country was observed. That is how the bird was included in the national list of nesting species in Bulgaria, we learn from ornithologist Dr. Petar Yankov of the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB), quoted by BTA. In the past summer scientists observed three recently hatched birds in the nests. In order to avoid a tourist influx to the area, the news of the appearance of the first Bulgarian generation of greater flamingos was announced two months later.
It turns out that as early as June 2023, several long-legged birds began building nests in the southern part of Atanasovsko Lake. However, the colony was active for a very short period, which prevented its successful reproduction. Experts note that changes in the water regime of the lake after the cessation of salt production in 2022 created favourable conditions for the reproduction of the species.
In this country, the elegant bird can be observed throughout the year, although its numbers vary depending on the season and the availability of food. Some of the pink inhabitants of the lakes near Burgas fly in from nearby colonies in Greece and Turkey.
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Compiled by: Veneta Nikolova
Publication in English: Al. Markov
Photos: Petar Yankov/ BSPD, Dragomir Georgiev, BTA
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