Phoeniconaias minorPhoenicopteriformes – Phoenicopteridae
It is the smallest species of flamingo; it lives in sub-Saharan Africa with another population in India. It mainly breeds at Lake Natron in northern Tanzania andfeeds primarily on a cyanobacteria or Spirulina, algae which grow only in very alkaline lakes and contains the photosynthetic pigments that give the birds their pink colour. This individual is alone among pink flamingoes in Camargue, south of France.
Ce Flamant nain s’est retrouvé au milieu de la colonie de Flamants roses, peut-être par une migration accidentelle mais plus vraisemblablement parce qu’il se serait échappé d’un parc ornithologique en Europe. La mandibule inférieure de son bec est d’une magnifique teinte fuchsia. Son alimentation est singulière: il ingurgite une cyanobactérie ou Spiruline qui contient un pigment photosynthétique qui serait à l’origine de sa couleur si particulière.
Il va et vient dans le parc et parfois même le quitte plusieurs jours durant. Son coin de prédilection reste toutefois le banc de terre où se tient une bande d’ados.
Noushka
Passionate about Nature and photography but mostly animals and birds. I live in France at the present, but have lived in Africa for 16 years and in the U.S. for 3 years and with Australia in mind for the future. With my husband, I created and managed a Bird Park in South Africa, raising mainly psittacines; the breeding facility housed over 1000 parrots at any given time. My photography is about sharing fauna's beauty with other enthusiasts! Equipment: NIKON lenses: 400 mm Z F4/5, 800 mm Z, 500 mm, 200/500 mm, 800 mm f5/6E
Leave a Reply