After several attempts in recent decades, the common flamingo has managed to successfully breed in the Natural Park of the La Mata and Torrevieja, where it had not done so since 1987.
The photos, shared by GVA Agroambient, were captured by talented local nature photographer, Federico Kenzelmann Area. Birdwatching tour company Oxytours, which works with local town halls on conservation and education remarked, “For all of us who are passionate about this Protected Natural Area, today is a day of joy.” Oxytours, which organises summer nature trails through La Mata Park with the support of the town hall said that the occasion of the birth of the chicks is “One more reason to take care of it, to talk about it with pride and not to look the other way when it suffers aggressions, to control the necessary means to ensure its conservation.”
Why have the flamingos been able to breed successfully this year? The success is due to a combination of factors – the low level of salinity in the lake led to higher levels of the flamingos’ principal food source, the Artemia salina. The low salinity was brought about by heavy rains earlier this year which saw the lake inundated with fresh water. These rains also impeded salt harvesting works and this, combined with the global Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown mean that there were less people around to disturb the nesting, breeding birds. Experts believe that to breed successfully, flamingos need a steady food source and absolute tranquillity – both of which they found in the unusual circumstances during lockdown. The salt lakes and natural park of La Mata and Torrevieja are a key area for biodiversity, recognised across Europe as a significant natural reserve and protected for its importance.