Lesser Flamingo
The lesser flamingo is the smallest species of flamingo, though it is a tall and large bird by most standards. The species can weigh from 1.2-2.7kg. The standing height is around 80-90cm. The total length(from beak to tail) and wingspan are in the same range of measurements, from 90- 105cm. Most of the plumage is pinkish white. The clearest difference between this species and the greater flamingo, the only other Old World species of flamingo, is the much more extensive black on the bill. Size is less helpful unless the species are together, since the sexes of each species also differ in height.
Habitat
Lesser flamingos inhabit coastal and inland wetlands of sub-Saharan Africa and India. They breed on large alkaline and saline lakes, salt pans and coastal lagoon. do not migrate and they live in big colonies with sometimes more than 1 million birds. They are mostly active at night. They fly between water bodies in large, V-shaped formations when food sources have become depleted.
Diet
They eat a herbivore diet which mostly consist of eating blue green algae but occasionally they can eat crustaceans and small insects. They spend about 20% of their day feeding. While they don’t consume the same volume of food as other species, the fact that what they eat is so small takes up more of their time to complete the process.
Breeding
Lesser flamingos are serially monogamous and the pair tends to remain together while they are able to produce young. They breed in colonies that number thousands of birds. Mating season usually starting in the last quarter, from October to December. Both parents build a nest of mud as high as 30 cm to keep it cool and protect it from flooding. The female lays one egg, and incubation lasts about 28 days, carried out in 24-hour shifts by both parents. After the chick hatches it is fed "crop milk", a substance which comes from the adult bird's upper digestive tract. Chicks must learn to recognize the call of their parents. At 6 days old, chicks join a crèche with thousands of other chicks. It learns to run at the age of one week, grows feathers at four weeks olds, and learns to fly when 12 weeks old.
Populations
The global population has been estimated at 2,220,000-3,240,000 individuals. Regional estimates include 15,000-25,000 individuals in West Africa, 1,500,000-2,500,000 in East Africa, 55,000-65,000 in South Africa and Madagascar, and 650,000 in south Asia. The overall population trend is decreasing owing to habitat degradation and disturbance, although some populations may be stable and others have unknown trends, thus a moderately rapid decline is suspected overall.
Threats
Only three main breeding sites exist in Africa and one in India, all facing threats and requiring protection. Proposed soda-ash mining and hydroelectric power schemes affecting the main breeding site, Lake Natron in Tanzania, although currently put on hold, could cause rapid overall population declines owing to disturbance and the introduction of an alien brine shrimp to clean the soda of algae (the species's food). In 2008, these proposals were still on hold, but had not been withdrawn. Other threats include land-claim, water pollution, and collisions with electric wires. There are fears that the population at Lake Bogoria is suffering from malnutrition.
Conservation
Conservation Actions Underway
It breeds at an artificially created site at Kamfers Dam, South Africa. In September 2006, 35 experts from the states within the species's range attended a meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, to start the process of drafting an International Action Plan for the species under the auspices of CMS and AEWA, which was produced in 2008. Breeding success was increased at a West African mixed colony with Greater Flamingo P. roseus by the prevention of hunting and deterrence of pedators. In Namibia, the NamPower/ Namibia Nature Foundation Strategic Partnership is looking into reducing collisions with power lines in that country. In Botswana, the breeding area at the Makgadikgadi salt pans was listed as a Flamingo sanctuary in 2009, and a management plan for this site has been developed.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Regularly monitor the population at Lake Natron and other key sites. Ensure complete and permanent protection of all breeding congregations, particularly those at Lake Natron.