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Lake natron in africa1/23/2024 The Maasai honor their God with a long pilgrimage to the mountain to celebrate her blessings of rain, cattle and children, and women who are unable to have children are taken to the mountain by elders to receive the Eng'ai's blessing of motherhood. Ol Doinyo Lengai, the "Mountain of God," is a sacred site for the Maasai people who believe that the god Eng'ai dwells within the majestic landmark, triggering eruptions and drought when she is dissatisfied. "Flamingo row: Officials 'under house arrest' ". "Long-distance dispersal capability of Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor between India and Africa: Genetic inferences for future conservation plans". "A Vision in Pink, Lesser Flamingo Breeding Success". "Phoeniconaias minor" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. "The fossil flamingos of Australia" (PDF). ^ "Home | San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants".^ a b "FLAMINGOS - Physical Characteristics".^ "Lesser flamingo - Phoeniconaias minor - ARKive"."Birds of the Indian Subcontinent – In a Nutshell". "Notes on the bills of the species of Flamingo ( Phœnicopterus)". Bulletin des sciences par la Société philomathique. "Sur une nouvelle espèce de Phœnicoptère ou Flammant". The lesser flamingo is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds applies. The only breeding site in South Africa, situated at Kamfers Dam, is threatened by pollution and encroaching development. The population in the two key East African lakes, Nakuru and Bogoria, have been adversely affected in recent years by suspected heavy metal poisoning, while its primary African breeding area in Lake Natron is currently under threat by a proposed soda ash plant by Tata Chemicals. The creches are marshalled by a few adult birds that lead them by foot to fresh water, a journey that can reach over 20 mi (32 km).ĭespite being the most common species of flamingo, it is classified as near threatened due to its declining population and the low number of breeding sites, some of which are threatened by human activities. Chicks join creches soon after hatching, sometimes numbering over 100,000 individuals. Like all flamingos, they lay a single chalky-white egg on a mound they build of mud. Some movement of individuals occurs between Africa and India. In 1974, they bred at the Rann of Kutch, but since then, only at the Zinzuwadia and Purabcheria salt pans in northwestern India. The species also breeds in southwestern and southern Asia. In the early 20th century, breeding was also observed at Lake Nakuru. Breeding occurred at Lake Magadi in Kenya in 1962 when Lake Natron was unsuitable due to flooding. The last confirmed breeding season at Aftout es Saheli in coastal Mauritania was in 1965. Their other African breeding sites are at Etosha Pan, Makgadikgadi Pan, and Kamfers Dam. In Africa, where they are most common, the lesser flamingos breed principally on the highly caustic Lake Natron in northern Ngorongoro District in Arusha Region of Tanzania. Lesser flamingos are prey to a variety of species, including marabou storks, vultures, baboons, African fish eagles, jackals, hyenas, foxes, Great white pelicans, Martial Eagle, and big cats. Their deep bill is specially adapted for filtering tiny food items. Although blue-green in colour, the algae contain the photosynthetic pigments that give the birds their pink colour. Presence of flamingo groups near water bodies is an indication of sodic alkaline water which is not suitable for irrigation use. This species feeds primarily on Spirulina, algae which grow only in very alkaline lakes. The lesser flamingo may be the most common species of flamingo, with a population that (at its peak) probably numbered up to two million individual birds. The extinct species Phoeniconaias proeses in the same genus, from the Pliocene of Australia, is thought to have been even smaller. Size is less helpful to distinguish the two species, unless they occur together, since the sexes of each species also differ in height. 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. The total length (from beak to tail) and wingspan are in the same range of measurements, from 90 to 105 cm (35 to 41 in). The standing height is around 80 to 90 cm (31 to 35 in). The species can weigh from 1.2 to 2.7 kg (2.6 to 6.0 lb). The lesser flamingo is the smallest species of flamingo, though it is a tall and large bird by most standards. Birds are occasionally reported from further north, but these are generally considered vagrants. The lesser flamingo ( Phoeniconaias minor) is a species of flamingo occurring in sub-Saharan Africa and western India. Phoeniconaias minor George Robert Gray, 1869.Phoenicopterus minor Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1798.
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