Lesser Flamingos star in first lecture
THE rescue and rehabilitation of the abandoned Lesser Flamingo chicks from Kimberley will be the topic of the first lecture of the environmental lecture series.
The series of lectures is the brainchild of the Crocworld Conservation Centre and will be hosted at the newly launched Fish Eagle Café in KwaZulu-Natal.
The first lecture will take place this Saturday.
According to BirdLife Africa, the Lesser Flamingo is listed as “near-threatened” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List. This is mainly because of a declining population, few breeding sites, and human-induced threats to the breeding sites.
Kamfers Dam is one of only four breeding localities for Lesser Flamingos on the African continent and the only breeding locality in South Africa.
It supports the largest permanent population of the species in Southern Africa, with an estimated population of 60 000 Lesser Flamingos. Due to the severe drought, more than 5 000 chicks and eggs were abandoned in January.
The Kimberley SPCA approached various rehabilitation centres around South Africa, including the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds and uShaka Sea World animal health department, to assist in hand-rearing the chicks.
Since January the birds have been rehabilitated at the various facilities.
According to Ann Kunz of the South African Association for Marine Biological Research, staff and volunteers have spent hours feeding chicks special feed through syringes and constantly monitoring the birds, many of which were initially in uShaka Sea World’s hospital.
“Last week, chicks were a delicate creamy white colour with some darker down feathers. Most of them are now sporting a pinkish tinge on their feathers with bright red faces and scarlet mouths.
“This week was a milestone as many of the chicks in special care have left the ICU and are spending a couple of hours each day in the highcare enclosure outside, enjoying the sunshine.”
Martin Rodrigues, Crocworld Conservation Centre’s manager, said he was ecstatic that the monthly lecture series launch featured such an interesting subject. He hoped guests would enjoy “knowledgeable experts in a picturesque venue”.