Larger carnivorous birds instead force lesser flamingos to abandon their nests. 1961. and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). They feed, lounge, and fly in flocks. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. How does that work? This behavior increases the survival of their young. This also allows each member to lower their energy investment in predator detection without increasing their risk of being attacked. Lesser Flamingo ( Phoeniconaias minor) - Appropriately named, these are the smallest of the flamingos. Their long neck can reach food underwater, and the curved bill helps them to filter feed on the bottom. Flamingos are very social birds and, thus, tend to live in groups called flamboyanes. a method of feeding where small food particles are filtered from the surrounding water by various mechanisms. Note glowing red eyes in adults. Lesser flamingos are colonial breeders and members of the colonies synchronize their breeding and hatching. Between 1986 and 1988, Lesser Flamingo and Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus settled in a breeding colony at Aftout es Saheli, with a maximum of 9,000 Greater Flamingos and 200 Lesser Flamingos incubating, but the attempt failed (Lamarche 1988 ). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22697369A93611130. (Childress, et al., 2009; Simmons, 2000; Tuite, 2000). The ability to observe these behaviors at close range allows researchers to observe and assess behaviors that normally could not be observed in the wild. Young fledglings stick around their parents for about 75 days. While they are located in the mudflat habitats, lesser flamingos spend more time feeding during the wet season than the dry season. There are also inland populations like those in the western region of Chad. 2013. [12][4] Some movement of individuals occurs between Africa and India.[13]. Humans are also known to simply kill Flamingos in a given area so that it can be used for something else. If the perceived threat moves closer, they launch at it with their bills open. However, theyre the most populous of any flamingo species. The lesser flamingo is a tall, large-bodied bird with a long neck and small head. This pose is mimicked in seconds by the other birds. Bonn, Germany: AEWA. (Brown and Root, 1971; Krienitz, et al., 2016; Moreno-Opo, et al., 2012; Robinson, 2015). On average, adult males measure significantly larger than females. Ecotourism implies that there are existing programs that profit from the appreciation of natural areas or animals. Since they like to feed when the shallow waters are calm, it usually happens after the sun goes down. The last confirmed breeding at Aftout es Saheli in coastal Mauritania was in 1965. Ostrich, 78/2: 463-468. The water typically measures less than one meter deep. Lesser flamingos survival is dependent on the health of the planets alkaline and saline lakes and currently, things arent looking too hot in that department. They are very responsive to changes in their environment such as any fluctuations in physical or chemical variables. This is a result of the many eyes effect. King (2000) found that almost 7,000 flamingos across 228 zoos were reported in a 1994 survey. The lesser flamingo is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds applies. Enrol in ISB CDO prog. breeding is confined to a particular season, reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female. Sometimes there are throuples and quads of varying sex configurations. Size is less helpful unless the species are together, since the sexes of each species also differ in height. Although large birds like the vulture and stork can threaten the survival of flamingo offspring.The land surrounding the water habitat can be dangerous with the threat of large cats including lions, tigers, cheetahs, and leopards. Vultures such as Egyptian vultures Neophron percnopterus, lappet-faced vultures Torgos reacheliotus, and white-headed vultures Trigonoceps occipitalis typically prey on the eggs and young in the breeding colonies. SeaWorld Education Department Publication. The distribution and density of lesser flamingos in east Africa in relation to food availability and productivity. If the young chicks were to be attacked by a predator, the adults would not protect them; instead adults would run away from them and would only return when the disturbance ceased. This species feeds primarily on Spirulina, algae which grow only in very alkaline lakes. Provisional species count in official eBird totals. The amount of rainfall influences conductivity. Physical Characteristics Long legs to wade into deeper water than other bird species. 2014. Over one million lesser flamingos are viewed from the roads within parks like Lake Nakuru National Park and Lake Bogoria in Kenya. Some individuals perform wing salutes, preening movements, or bows. Flamingo breeding: The role of group displays. After 20 years of having little breeding success, the lesser flamingos at Disney's Animal Kingdom just had their best breeding season yet thanks to baseball clay from the ESPN Wide World of Sports The pink avian species is primarily nocturnal, meaning theyre most active at night. Soda Lakes of East Africa. Nasirwa, O. Besides their size, they can be identified by their dark red beaks, light pink plumage, and hind toes. Flamingos have a poor sense of taste and no sense of smell. Resource information is passed passively as a result of the foragers drawing the receivers to the exploited food source areas without giving them information about the quality of the source. As a result they benefit from not having many natural predators. Some would occasionally be accompanied by one or two adults while making treks of several kilometers over an open soda flat. Breeding of greater and lesser flamingos at Sua Pan, Botswana, 1998-2001. When the other members of the flock see this, they will then mimic it in seconds. In head and neck hooking movements, flamingos walk forward in an erect position with their bills lowered to their upper necks in hook-like postures. Lesser flamingos have the largest flocks of any flamingo species. Population declines, viable breeding areas, and management options for flamingos in southern Africa. They stand tall with their necks stretched upwards and flap their wings to flash the colors of their feathers. found in the oriental region of the world. Winds that occur in the late afternoon creates strong wave actions that interrupt their feeding. Humans Homo sapiens can contribute to the degradation of the flamingos' habitats through deforestation, farming, drainage, pollution, and industry. October 31, 2017 Flamingos are famous for their bright pink feathers, stilt-like legs, and S-shaped neck. Lesser flamingos are dietary specialists. Travel occurs at night where they will fly in flocks with different formations to take advantage of varying wind conditions. Occasionally, greater flamingos will mingle with lesser flamingos. Research on flamingo communication commonly stems from captive studies. 2018. These variables can include changes in the conductivity of the water. The clearest difference between this species and the greater flamingo, the only other Old World species of flamingo, is the much more extensive black on the bill. to learn digital transformation! National Science Foundation (Bildstein, et al., 1993; Brown and Root, 1971; Krienitz, et al., 2016; Kumssa and Bekele, 2014; Robinson, 2015; Simmons, 1996; Vareschi, 1978), No home range has been reported for lesser flamingos, as they are a nomadic species that can travel distances as far as 450 km per day. Lesser flamingos are colonial breeders that perform large group displays. Referring to a mating system in which a female mates with several males during one breeding season (compare polygynous). offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) National Parks like Lake Nakuru and Lake Bogoria raise conservation awareness by promoting the protection of the environment. long; females tend to be smaller than males, Approximately 1.5 to 2 kg (3 to 4.5 lbs.). Tuite, C. 2000. By the time the young are three weeks old, they have started to form their own flocks called creches. Zoos provide research opportunities that would be difficult to carry out in the wild. They typically breed between October and February. In other regions killing Flamingos to consume the tongue is also a common practice. Scott, J., R. Renaut, R. Owen. Did you know? These groups range in size from a few pairs to tens of thousands of flamingos. Simmons, R. 1996. gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate), Flamingo, Bulletin of the IUCNSSC/Wetlands International Flamingo Specialist Group, Flamingos Behavior, Biology, and Relationship with Humans, The Ecology of East African Soda Lakes: Implications for Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) Feeding Behavior (Ph.D. Dissertation), "International single species action plan for the conservation of the lesser flamingo Phoenicopterus minor", 2007, http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22697369/0, 2020 Regents of the University of Michigan. Martin, G., N. Jarrett, P. Tovey, C. White. 2017. This display starts in the individual who sensed the danger and is eventually mimicked by others in the flock. Flamingos have few natural predators because they live in remote, inhospitable places. associates with others of its species; forms social groups. Take Merlin with you in the field! Hydrobiologia, 710/1: 83-93. This is due to the numerous vigilant individuals that are scanning for threats. Accounting for just 5% of young mortality, chicks are preyed upon by vultures, such as the Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus. All of their displays, including the roaring, can be repeated for several minutes and can last as long as several weeks. They assist the hatching of their young when they stand up and their call imprint on their chick so it will recognize its own parent. Flamingos perform this display by snapping their bills to their lower necks which can make it look as if their necks were dislocated below their heads. In birds, naked and helpless after hatching. Flamingos: Sea World, Inc. 1994. To find their young after a disturbance, parents emit a high-pitched quaronk call. Parents will build a tall, 12 in. The species can weigh from 1.2 to 2.7kg (2.6 to 6.0lb). After copulation, males dismount over the females heads and run around behind them. Lesser flamingos need to feed in alkaline lakes, aka soda lakes, which have a pH value between 9 and 12 and contain a high percentage of carbonate salts. Downloaded on 19 December 2018. Know supply chain strategy with IIML COO Prog. Their feet are coral red and swollen and their eyes are black. The Ecology of East African Soda Lakes: Implications for Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) Feeding Behavior (Ph.D. Dissertation). The lesser kudus are mainly found in Eastern Africa while the greater is in both southern and eastern Africa. Metro's work includes parks and nature, housing, land and transportation. Once paired up, lesser flamingo couples move towards the flock periphery. Unlike the greater flamingos, the lesser flamingos are vulnerable to attacks by a number of predators like African fish eagles, wildcats, baboons, etc. All rights reserved. "Phoeniconaias minor" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. 2000. Other factors that reduce the lesser flamingos success rates include desertion of newly-hatched eggs, losses of young in the water and mud, and the formation of soda anklets on the legs of chicks. The smallest flamingo in the world, with a dark bill and red legs. Most of these threats are in the vicinity of their primary breeding site, Lake Natron. Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes). 2003. If an individual member sense nearby danger, it performs an alert posing display. Sergiodlarosa [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons. Provisional: Either: 1) member of exotic population that is breeding in the wild, self-propagating, and has persisted for multiple years, but not yet Naturalized; 2) rarity of uncertain provenance, with natural vagrancy or captive provenance both considered plausible. The curled leg is tucked close to the body for added warmth. The helminth parasites of the lesser flamingo, Phoeniconaias minor (Geoffroy), from Lake Nakuru, Kenya, including a new cestode, Phoenicolepis nakuren. Lake Natron is also affected by soda-ash mining and hydroelectric power schemes. 2009. This behavior occurs during the lesser flamingos ritual bickering behavior breeding display. Based on a study done by Vareschi (1978), lesser flamingos are commonly found at four alkaline lakes, Lake Nakuru, Lake Elmenteita, Lake Bogoria, and Lake Natron in Kenya. high conical nest in the mud, in order to avoid flooding and to help with cooling. Their feeding strategy, feeding in alkaline or saline bodies of water, does not affect other species. Essentially, the men try to impress the ladies, and matches typically last the whole season because the parents help incubate, rear, and feed the chick. generally wanders from place to place, usually within a well-defined range. They include lions, tigers, cheetahs, and leopards. 2007. They are now attended by only a few adults during the day. Feeding behavior, aggression, and the conservation biology of flamingos: Integrating studies of captive and free-range birds. The influence of visual stimuli provided by mirrors on the marching displays of lesser flamingos, Phoeniconais minor. Theses parasites include intestinal cestodes (Amabilia lamelligera, Cladogynia latovarium, Sobolevicanthus gracilis, Alcataenia campylacantha, Parorchites zederi, Rauschitaenia ancora, and Phoenicolepis nakurensis). Three-quarters of the world's lesser flamingos fly over from other saline lakes in the Rift Valley and nest on salt crystal islands that appear when the water is at a very specific leveltoo. They also prefer to fly at night to take advantage of nighttime drafts that help power them through the air. Landslides leave Badrinath pilgrims stranded for 8 hours, 27% dip in weekly Covid cases, present surge may have peaked, Karnataka polls live: BJP releases manifesto, promises Uniform Civil Code implementation, Why Bengal's small poll is big deal for Mamata's nephew, Man drives for 3 km with a person hanging from bonnet in Delhi, Snake is Shivas charm, fine with being one: PM Modi on Kharge's barb, Why dollar is not world's 'biggest financial terrorist'. They arent a threat to the full grow ones other than the fact that they are competing for many of the same types of foods. Their courtship displays can last for hours and can be repeated at the same site for days or even months. When the ball of crystalline soda becomes heavy enough, it drags the bird down into the mud and water and they can drown. Flocks of lesser flamingos have been known to act aggressively towards other flocks. Large flock size is an advantage to avoid predators.During mating season, the flocks separate into smaller flocks. Most flamingos, including this species, have pale pink plumage, legs, and bills. Adult lesser flamingos are on average 35.5 inches in length, Flamingo hatchlings typically weigh between 2.5 and 3.5 ounces. Both parents take turns incubating so each partner can search for food. Lesser flamingos Chilean, Andean, and puna flamingos are found in South America; greater and lesser flamingos live in Africa, with greaters also found in the Middle East; the American or Caribbean flamingo is native to Mexico, the Caribbean, and the northernmost tip of South America. They also look for those that are sick or weak and can be taken down easily. Information about food is shared through the flock from foragers. Animal Behavior, 43/6: 1048- 1050. (Brown and Root, 1971; Krienitz, et al., 2016; McCulloch and Irvine, 2009), Lesser flamingos are expected to have a maximum lifespan of 32 years in the wild and 44 years in captivity. This obligate filter feeder often feeds at night and early morning when the surface of the water is calm. The uropygial gland also produces odors that are involved in mating behaviors. While the bird sucks in water, minute organisms are filtered out by a comb-like projection of the tongue. Smaller breeding congregations also occur in West Africa, southern Africa, Asia, India and Pakistan. Lesser flamingos, Phoeniconaias minor, are predominantly found in the southern region of Africa reaching as far south as South Africa. They perform a variety of displays such as their head-wagging, head-bobbing, broken-neck posture, and ritual bickering display. They feed the longest during the wet season, when diatoms are plentiful. The mounds are typically refurbished by the flamingos, applying fresh mud to rebuild them and increase their height. At hatching, juvenile males have an average mass of 1,327 g, wing length of 327.4 mm, a tarsus length of 255.4 mm, culmen length of 102.3 mm and a skull length, including the bill, of 136.3 mm. They are an altricial species, which means they require care and feeding by their parents. The group of males typically move together as a flock but some tend to break up into smaller groups. Juveniles are gray-brown and darker than young Greater Flamingos. Large food particles, and water exit through slits in their bill. This neck posture is their broken neck display. These displays can last for days or weeks. However, all lesser flamingo mating partnerships arent all pairs. This is a result of the eagles nests being built in the trees in the vicinity of the lakes. Since these animals fly and move around from location to location it is often that they come into contact with the Flamingo. Lesser flamingos do what can best be described as a mating dance, and brighter birds typically have more success finding a partner. The flamingo mating ritual is similar for all species of the bird. Impacts of flamingos on saline lake margin and shallow lacustrine sediments in the Kenya Rift Valley. Contributor Galleries The long-term goal of the conservation plan for the lesser flamingos is to upgrade them from a Near Threatened species to a Least Concern species. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Once hatched, the chick is fed 'crop milk' by both parents and other flock members. Lesser Flamingo. Flamingos have a poor sense of taste and no sense of smell. Young flamingos collect rings as they continually walk through the water. Adults are left flightless for around three weeks during their molt. True to its name, the greater flamingo is larger and taller than the lesser flamingo. An alert posing display is performed if one member of the flock senses danger. 11 cm in width and 9 cm in length. In some regions python snakes are known to attack flamingos. The average expected lifespan in the wild is 28 years. Naturalized: Exotic population is self-sustaining, breeding in the wild, persisting for many years, and not maintained through ongoing releases (including vagrants from Naturalized populations). 1985. Arengo, F., E. Galicia. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature lists lesser flamingos as a Near Threatened animal. Even in locations where the government has made it illegal for this to take place it continues. McCulloch, G., K. Irvine. Both males and females provide crop milk to their offspring. Small animals can also take down young Flamingos including bobcats, foxes, and coyotes. These large colonies are believed to help flamingos avoid predators, maximize their food intake and use scarcely suitable nesting sites more efficiently. Another way to differentiate between greater and lesser flamingos is the bill. They are typically built within 1-2 meters of one another and are arranged in groups known as clumps or in lines known as strings. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria. 2015a) Remarkably agile; walk . The first event in the lesser flamingos mating season is torrential rains. Moreno-Opo, R., E. Ould Sidaty, J. Baldo, F. Garcia, D. Ould Sehla Daf, L. Gonzalez. The current global population of lesser flamingos is between 2.2 and 3.2 million. The third is an exterior layer, sometimes slightly separated from the rest of the mound. In order for lesser flamingos to attract breeding partners, males initiate and perform ritualized group displays. Large, undisturbed alkaline and saline lakes, salt pans or coastal lagoons. An animal that eats mainly plants or parts of plants. The nesting habitats of lesser flamingos includes areas in very shallow water so they can construct their nests out of the wet mud found in the area. Their fully webbed feet contain a three-clawed digit impression and measure ca. Flamingos typically nest on the ground and build tall mounds from dirt and mud to keep their eggs elevated and safe from water and predators. Escapee: Exotic species known or suspected to be escaped or released, including those that have bred but don't yet fulfill the criteria for Provisional. Approximately 80 to 90 cm (31 to 36 in.) The lesser flamingo is the smallest species of flamingo, though it is a tall and large bird by most standards. Pp. (Compare to zooplankton.). Pp. At around six years old, lesser flamingos reach reproductive maturity. In other words, India and southeast Asia. Filter feeder specializing in single-celled phytoplankton and benthic diatoms. And although there are exceptions to the rule, females tend to be smaller than males. Simmons (1996) found that flamingos tend to migrate towards breeding areas with an average rainfall between 440-600 mm. Lesser flamingos drink mostly fresh water. Two years ago, 43,800 of the birds perished at Tanzania's Lake Manyara, the first major die-off at that alkaline, soda-rich lake. They feed during this time to avoid predation and to meet their overnight energy requirements. Flamingos have been around for a long time! [6][8] Most of the plumage is pinkish white. Predators The eggs and chicks of the Lesser flamingo are preyed upon by the marabou stork, lappet-faced vulture, white-headed vulture, and Egyptian vulture. Childress, B., B. Hughes, D. Harper, W. Bossche. New World Flamingos What Do American Flamingoes Eat? Advertisement. (Krienitz, et al., 2016; Simmons, 1996; Vareschi, 1978). Migrates and breeds in response to changing environmental conditions. Vultures, eagles, the Marabou stork are just some of the birds that will prey upon the eggs and chicks of the Lesser flamingo. , greater Portland's Lesser flamingos feast on blue-green algae, which only grows in alkaline lakes. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22697369A129912906. young are born in a relatively underdeveloped state; they are unable to feed or care for themselves or locomote independently for a period of time after birth/hatching. Zoo Biology, 10/1: 53-63. Flamingos will synchronize movements in their elaborate displays.Flamingo young are safer within the flock. Male flamingos will join together to form flocks while swinging their heads from side to side. Lesser flamingos are most active at dusk and dawn, spending most of that time feeding. (BirdLife International, 2012 . The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. 2023 Oakland Zoo. Webbed feet support them on soft mud. A very social bird. A breeding colony of the near threatened lesser flamingo Phoeniconaias minor in western Africa: A conservation story of threats and land management. humans benefit economically by promoting tourism that focuses on the appreciation of natural areas or animals. The lesser flamingo(Phoeniconaias minor) is a speciesof flamingooccurring in sub-SaharanAfricaand western India. 13. The extinct species Phoeniconaias proeses in the same genus, from the Pliocene of Australia, is thought to have been even smaller.[9]. Fortunately, if they sense predators are near, giant tube worms can expeditiously retract these colorful gills before they are grabbed by hungry crustaceans. Mating rituals occur, including head and wing movements. Lesser flamingos are prey to a variety of species, including marabou storks, vultures, baboons, African fish eagles, jackals, hyenas, foxes, Great white pelicans, Martial Eagle, and big cats. Waterbirds, 23/Special Publication 1: 193-197. They also have to be prepared and shipped in a way that minimizes the risk of injury, damage to health or cruel treatment. The lesser flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) is a species of flamingo occurring in sub-Saharan Africa and western India. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. (Brown and Root, 1971; Krienitz, et al., 2016; Stevens, 1991). [6][7] The total length (from beak to tail) and wingspan are in the same range of measurements, from 90 to 105cm (35 to 41in). DiBuono, L. 2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22697369A129912906.en. Moreover, the rain provides the necessary mud for their incubation mounds. Facts on File Publications, New York. The ADW Team gratefully acknowledges their support. About three weeks after hatching, the chicks start to form their own smaller flocks known as creches. They are also listed in Appendix II of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). Lesser flamingos are obligate filter eaters with about 10,000 microscopic layers in their bills used to sift toxic elements from their food. The latters beak is dark red with a large black tip, while the former has pink beaks with small black tips. Creches are like preschool for chicks. In captivity, lesser flamingos usually make it past 60. These breeding areas include the African countries of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Senegal, and Mauritania as well as the Asian countries of Pakistan and India. The lesser flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) is a species of flamingo occurring in sub-Saharan Africa and northwestern India. Waterbirds, 23/Special Publication 1: 47-51. Bildstein, K., C. Golden, B. McCraith, B. Bohmke, R. Seibels. In Lake Nakuru and Lake Bogoria, ecotourism is centered on flamingos. The variation in nutritional quality of these foraged organisms is a key factor that contributes to the daily migration of the birds. They breed on large undisturbed alkaline and saline lakes, salt pans or coastal lagoons. Their wingspan ranges from 1.0-1.1 m long. The move together in tightly-packed flocks on the ground. They are also hosts to trematodes (Chaunocephalus ferox and Braunia cordiformis) and nematodes (Striatofilaria phoenicopteri and Filaria phoenicopteri). This one act has the power to knock out 50% of the population. Lesser Flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor) is the smallest of the Flamingo species. Dam water diversion, lake integrity, industrial pollution, human encroachment, and soda ash extraction are all imminent threats to the health of the worlds alkaline lakes. Mortality of young chicks typically occurs during the first three weeks post-hatching. The Animal Diversity Web team is excited to announce ADW Pocket Guides! They are typically ranked as one of the most visited tourist attractions. This makes them smaller than greater flamingos which can grow over 150 cm tall or weigh up to 4 kg - twice the size of the lesser cousin. Also, to chase predators away from nests (Snyder and Snyder 2000) Can fly at high speed (Snyder and Snyder 2000) Up to 40-70 kph (25-43 mph) (D'Elia and Haig 2013) Average over 50 kph (31 mph) (Finkelstein et al. These birds are unique because both the male and female provide their young with a type of nourishment called crop milk. As a result of their popularity, they play a role in the socio-economy of African countries like Kenya, Nambia, and Tanzania. BirdLife International, 23/4: 426-436. The name flamingo is originally derived from the Portuguese language and means "red goose," which is a reference to their flying formation and the noise they make. Flamingo, Bulletin of the IUCNSSC/Wetlands International Flamingo Specialist Group, 17: 37-39. Some disjunct populations have been located in the coastal regions of Madagascar. The lesser flamingo is the smallest of the species. Humans have long been the biggest predators of the Flamingo though. Their eyes are a golden color with a purple eye-ring. Adult males have an average mass of 1,798 g, wing length of 346.5 mm, tarsus length of 242.8 mm, culmen length of 102.2 mm, and a skull length, including the bill, of 135.5 mm. These extremely large snakes have no problem attacking larger prey when it is available. In other areas including Africa there are the big cats on land to worry about. This could cause rapid overall population declines due to human disturbance and the introduction of an alien brine shrimp to clean the soda of algae. Ostrich, 77/1-2: 84-89. In mounting, males place their webbed feet over the wing bases of the females and flap their wings to maintain their balance. However, the birds must contrast to activate their built-in sieve systems by turning them upside down to eat! In 1974, they bred at the Rann of Kutch, but since then, only at the Zinzuwadia and Purabcheria salt pans in northwestern India. Lesser flamingos have no special statuses on the US Migratory Bird Act, US Federal List and the State of Michigan List. The Ibis, 113/2: 147-172. Water pollution, like that caused by pesticides or heavy metals, puts these habitats at risk. Free from most predators, the flamingos build their nests on small islands that form in the lake during the dry season.
