Peck of Trouble for Flamingos in Arabia
- Share via
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — The first breeding colony of flamingos in Arabia in 70 years abandoned 80 nests after someone stole most of the eggs.
English and Swedish ornithologists had been monitoring the flamingos since they arrived from Africa in June at the edge of a mangrove-sheltered saline lake.
“Flamingos rarely form new colonies, and this was a great discovery,” said Erik Hirshfeld of Sweden, one of Europe’s top bird experts. “This is the first time for more than 70 years that flamingos have laid eggs and hatched young ones anywhere in Arabia.”
The flamingos apparently resettled about a half mile away from the abandoned nests but will not nest again this year, experts said.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
