Latest news with #GreaterFlamingos
Time of India
18-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Flamingos light up Kovalam
Chennai: Bird watchers in the city were surprised to spot nearly 200 Greater Flamingos at Kovalam Creek recently, more so because wildlife officials said they were not sighted at their regular haunts such as Pulicat Bird Sanctuary in Tiruvallur, Kodiakkarai in Nagapattinam district, or the newly declared flamingo sanctuary at Dhanushkodi near Rameswaram. A senior wildlife official said that in Kodiakkarai, flamingos begin arriving from Sept and stay for about six months. Former deputy director of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) S Balachandran said flamingos breed once in four years, and in some areas, they can be seen year-round. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai In Kanyakumari district, the backwaters near saltpans often host them due to the mixture of saline and fresh water that ensures adequate feed. This combination influences their extended stay, Balachandran said. Regarding Dhanushkodi, Balachandran said that the lagoon, now declared a flamingo sanctuary, dries up in summer, forcing the birds to move elsewhere. K V R K Thirunaranan of The Nature Trust said the availability of feed and absence of human disturbance attracted flamingos to Kovalam Creek every year. Thirunaranan and his team recorded mostly flamingos in non-breeding plumage and juvenile birds. "Since 2017, our team has recorded flamingo sightings here during July, albeit in small numbers, which always surprised us," he said.
Hindustan Times
05-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Flamingos are still being sighted at Rajasthan's Sambhar Lake, signaling developing habitat suitable for their nesting
It's June, but Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan is still alive with pink. Flamingos, which usually begin arriving around November, have touched down months after their arrival in schedule — painting the shallow salt flats in sweeping, graceful waves of pink and white. A post shared by Yogesh Sevkani ( Jaipur 🇮🇳) (@firangi_photowala) This delayed departure has surprised many. Experts say flamingos typically migrate to Sambhar during winter, drawn by shrinking water levels that make feeding on brine shrimp and algae easier and they start to depart by March. But this year, favorable conditions — including unseasonal showers and abundant food — may have signaled the birds to stay. According to the The census, conducted in January 2025, documented over 104,000 migratory birds, including a large number of Lesser and Greater Flamingos, a substantial rise from the previous year's count of 7,147 birds. Experts attribute this increase to favorable environmental conditions like good rainfall and water availability.. Bird watchers and locals are still spotting the flocks in motion, some at sunrise, casting reflections over the silvery lakebed. Yogesh Sevkani(firangi_photowala) a photographer behind these viral photographs who hail from Jaipur, Rajasthan says, 'Flamingos starts coming late October in lacs, they stay till march most of them leave, but some stay and lay their eggs here.' The spectacle isn't just beautiful — it's important. Sambhar is one of the most critical wintering grounds along the Central Asian Flyway, a major migratory route. While flamingos steal the show, India welcomes over 250 species of migratory birds each year. From bar-headed geese at Chilika Lake to cranes in Khichan and pintails at Bharatpur, the subcontinent becomes a vast, seasonal sanctuary.
