Flamingo in 1954: Tour du Valat colony
[418] [read-flamingo-14-18] In 1954, the field log for Flamingo is headed “Tour du Valat colony.” The figure kept beside that heading is 6. It is a count or a date from the work, not a rank of the species’ worth. A zoo birthday card does not replace the log. Filter-feeding on cyanobacteria, diatoms and brine invertebrates. Crop milk feeds the single chick; adults commute to fresher water. The feed
Yes. Phoeniconaias minor can number more than a million on Rift soda lakes when Arthrospira blooms. Breeding still hinges on sites like Lake Natron. What is the Camargue’s role in Europe? Salt pans and Tour du Valat management rebuilt a greater flamingo colony that now seeds Mediterranean satellites.
Do American flamingos still belong in Florida? A breeding population has returned to Florida Bay after a long absence. Some birds are escapees; others are wild Caribbean wanderers — the mix is a current field argument. Why do Andean flamingos look more at risk? High-Andean salars face lithium and water extraction. Three highland species share a small set of lakes.
Can flamingos drink hypersaline water? They use salt glands and fresh seeps. Chicks on soda lakes need adult crop milk and freshwater access. Is the plastic lawn flamingo part of the biology story? Union Products’ 1957 pink flamingo (Don Featherstone) is culture, not field mark — but it fixed the colour in US suburbia more firmly than field guides did.
Keep 1954, “Tour du Valat colony,” and 6 together or the note on Flamingo stops being that year’s record.1954
Figures to keep
- Year of the note
- 1954
- Figure to keep
- 6
- Species
- Flamingo
- Line in the log
- Tour du Valat colony
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