Unparalleled 60,000 Flamingos Flock To Southern France

Aug 17, 2020 by apost team

Mother nature can bring a bevy of surprises our way. From natural disasters to miraculous wonders, it seems we never know what to expect next. The following natural phenomenon occurs each year but is much more pronounced this season.

This year, more than 50,000 adults and 12,000 baby flamingos are nesting in the salt marshes of southern France. These record numbers may be related to dwindling numbers of tourists. Aerial photography was used to count the salt marsh visitors.

For the Birds

Each year, flamingos move to seek warmer weather for nesting and raising their young. They travel as mated pairs and select a safe place to give birth to their offspring. One of their perennial favorites is the salt marshes near Montpellier in Southern France.

Public Nuisance or Just a Little Flamboyant?

To some people, all these birds at once can become a bit of a nuisance. Others see them for what they are—a flamboyance or a large group of flamingos. Flamboyances can contain tens of thousands of flamingos.

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Not Everyone is Pink

With such an influx of flamingos, one would expect a sea of pink. This is not the case. Flamingos become pink through the diet they consume. Newborn and young flamingos are gray.

Flamingos Only Lay One Egg At a Time

An interesting fact about flamingos is that they only lay one egg per year. Both parents then take turns sitting on the egg to keep it warm before it hatches.

Everyone Gets Tagged

In the salt marsh, volunteers work hard to tag the flamingos. They corral the birds and then carefully place a tag around their leg. These tags are used to keep track of each flamingo for research purposes.

And Counted

Another much more tedious task must be done regarding the flamingos, and that is counting them. Instead of wasting time chasing after the birds on the ground, researchers used aerial photographs of the flamboyance to get a headcount. There were 50,000 adult flamingos, and 12,000 babies counted for a total of more than 60,000 flamingos.

We might not always be able to snap an aerial photograph of you, but we can get an overview of your opinion. What do you think of these birds? Are they a fine flamboyance, or are they really for the birds? Take a few moments to present your case here or through another social media community.