A single Greater Flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus, which was first seen in Malta last Tuesday by birdwatchers in Marsaxlokk, appears to have settled in for an extended stay at Salina, Qawra, BirdLife Malta said today.
“It is difficult to know whether to be excited or worried,” said BirdLife Malta Conservation and Policy Officer, Christian Debono. “We want people to enjoy seeing this amazing bird, which has decided to visit Salina, but we also know there are those who would do it harm given the chance.”
The lone protected bird landed in the salt pans, which are currently undergoing restoration, last Wednesday morning and has since been under 24-hour guard by BirdLife Malta staff, volunteers, local residents and police, in an effort to avoid a repeat of what happened to the last flamingo to visit Salina, in June last year.
BirdLife are now calling on the wider public to help.”We will have volunteers here watching the flamingo around the clock for as long as we can find enough people to help us,” said Christian Debono. “Visitors coming to see the flamingo and ask questions are always welcome.”
“Even with the help of police and people living in the Salina area we still need more people to help keep a watch over the flamingo in shifts as long as it remains in Salina.”
Apart from keeping human eyes on the flamingo, BirdLife said it is also monitoring the area with video cameras in case the worst happens.
Anyone interested in helping is asked to contact BirdLife Malta on 21347644 / 45 / 46.
Salina the perfect place for flamingos: “The salt pans here provide the ideal habitat for any migrating flamingos that end up staying on the islands for any length of time,” said Mr Debono.
The high salt content of the water inside the pans, which is even higher than that of the adjacent seawater thanks to the evaporation process they make use of for the salt-making process, provides the perfect conditions for the tiny plants and animals that flamingos feed on.
“It is probably the abundance of food that has persuaded this flamingo to stay here,” said Debono, “we have seen him feeding frequently over the last week, mainly at night.”
Come and see for yourself this weekend- and help BirdLife name the Salina flamingo! This Saturday and Sunday (21st – 22nd June) BirdLife will have a gazebo overlooking the saltpans where people can come and use the binoculars and telescopes provided to get brilliant close-up views, as well as learn about flamingos and the other birds that use the salt pans.
Here is a map to help you find them: Salina flamingo watch map [1]
“We’re also asking people to think of a name for the flamingo,” said Debono. “If you come to see us at Salina on Saturday or Sunday, you will be able to enter your name in a raffle and we will pick the winning name at random on Sunday evening.”
The winning name will be announced on Monday and the winner will get a photo of the flamingo with a certificate with their name and the name of the flamingo.
Also this weekend, on Sunday morning (22nd June) Ghadira Nature Reserve will be opening to the public between 9am and 11am for a special morning of activities and guided tours for all the family, focusing on birds that breed in the wetland bird sanctuary.
It is not necessary to book for any of these activities, but for more information, please email events@birdlifemalta.org [2].
Find these events on Facebook:
Photos: The Greater Flamingo stretches its wings on a short flight between the different pools of the salt pans. Photo by Timothy Micallef and: one of the pairs of Black-winged Stilts, which have been attempting to breed in the Ghadira wetland reserve for the second consecutive year this summer. Photo by Aron Tanti