Kerala, India
Important Facts Related to Flamingo Migration:
- Flamingos are generally non-migratory birds; however, due to changes in the climate and water levels in their breeding areas, flamingo colonies are not always permanent:
- Populations that breed in high-altitude lakes, which may freeze over in the winter, move to warmer areas
- When water levels rise, birds may search for more favorable sites
- Drought conditions may force some flamingo populations to relocate
- Most flamingos that migrate will return to their native colony to breed; however, some may join a neighboring colony
- When flamingos migrate, they do so mainly at night; they prefer to fly with a cloudless sky and favorable tailwinds
- They can travel approximately 600 km (373 miles) in one night at about 50 to 60 kph (31-37 mph)
- When traveling during the day, the flamingos fly at high altitudes, possibly to avoid predation by eagles
- The movements of the greater flamingo population living in Camargue in southern France have been closely monitored since 1977:
- Most flamingos that leave the colony go either southwest to winter in Spain, or southeast to winter in Tunisia and Turkey
- The percentage of birds that travel east or west seems to depend on the direction of the prevailing winds in the birds’ first autumn