Magnifique! Greater Flamingoes in Mannar
Source:Thuppahis
Unknown Author, Courtesy of Dushy Perera (a periodic migrant to Mannar)
We had eagerly awaited this moment. It was a little after sunrise on the Thirukketheecharam Temple road and the dawn of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. We hurriedly got off our vehicles and started walking towards the mud flats and to our unbelief they were there. Our cameras clicked from a distance not knowing how long we would continue to see them. But they didn’t disappoint us and we moved closer and closer to them. There were nearly 200 of them.
Fun Facts about Flamingos
- The word Flamingo comes from the Spanish and Latin word ‘ flamenco ‘ which means fire, it refers to the bright colours of the bird’s feathers.
- Flamingo chicks are born grey when hatched.
- Flamingos pink colour is obtained from its diet.
As we see these majestic birds fly away over the windmills we wonder what their future and ours will be. There is always a cost to development. But will this be too much for us to sustain is left to be seen.
