The Rare Bird Review

The RBR is indebted to the Turkish Daily News for this story.

Ercek Lake and the environs of Van have been invaded by thousands of flamingos on their annual migration to Africa, reported the Doğan News Agency.

Deputy Associate Professor Ozdemir Adızel from the Yuzuncu Yıl University department of biology said this year about 3,000 flamingos have come to the lake, where they stay every June and July for three months. He added that Ercek and nearby Lake Van are rich in different types of birds, with about 179 species living in and around the area.

The flamingos usually rest among the plants and brushy areas in the vicinity of Karagunduz village. As they fly over in a flock, they form a white sheet over Lake Ercek, and the villagers have stated that they add new color to their village, saying that watching them in the mornings and evenings is an absolute delight for them.

Adızel, a renowned bird scientist, said the brushy areas found at Ercek Lake were of great importance for many bird species that are part of the local ecology. He said the landscape around the lakes was the main reason for the flamingos choosing this area.

The flamingos, en route to Africa via Iran's Urmiye Lake, or on the way back, stop at Akgel, Yelebi, Lake Van and Ercek Lake. Starting in February they travel to Urmiye Lake. They lay their eggs there, and in June and July they stop over at Ercek Lake and then migrate to Africa. Nine species of flamingos face worldwide extinction. In our plans to protect these birds, we determined the important places where they can be found. We then outlined a preservation plan that involves measures to ensure their safety and ability to procreate. Unfortunately, just like in other areas of the world, hunting is a major issue in the reservoirs of both the Ercek and Van lakes.'"

The entire story is here.