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Flamingo birds change breeding patterns
ISTANBUL ? TDN with wire dispathces
Around 40,000 pairs of greater flamingos, who traditionally breed at Lake Urumiyeh in Iran and at Lake Tuz in Turkey, have dramatically changed their breeding patterns in recent years.
The flamingos have not been breeding in the Lake Urumiyeh area since 2000 as the result of a drought in the area. These lakes are the only major breeding ground for this species of flamingo, from Camargue in France to the Rann of Kutch in India.
The flamingos that stop at the Lake Van basin, located in the far east of Turkey, at a set time each year, arrived early this year.
?zdemir Adızel, assistant professor at Y?z?nc? Yıl University's Biology Department, emphasized that flamingos are nomadic birds.
Adızel said flamingos migrate from North Africa in the first week of February and stay around the Lake Van basin for five days. They then migrate toward Iran's Lake Urumiyeh after stopping in Turkey.
�After the flamingos lay their eggs at the basin, they return each May,� said Adızel, adding, �This year they arrived early, flamingos were at the basin at the end of April. The biggest reason for them migrating early this year is global warming.�
Migration dates have changed for most birds around the world. Aside from the fact that global warming has destroyed breeding grounds for the birds, rising structures and human activity may be other reasons for the early migration.
Adızel said flamingos can be spotted at the Lake Van basin, Lake Er?ek, and the ?elebibağ and G?r?nd? sedges. According to Adızel, the flamingos are likely to remain until the beginning of November.
The number of flamingos has reached 7,000, said Adızel, adding, �The number of flamingos rises each year because they don't have any enemies. Bird hunters do not have an interest in flamingo meat, so their breeding grounds are safe places.
�We are trying to raise consciousness around the villages of Lake Van in order to save the flamingos,� he said.
ISTANBUL ? TDN with wire dispathces
Around 40,000 pairs of greater flamingos, who traditionally breed at Lake Urumiyeh in Iran and at Lake Tuz in Turkey, have dramatically changed their breeding patterns in recent years.
The flamingos have not been breeding in the Lake Urumiyeh area since 2000 as the result of a drought in the area. These lakes are the only major breeding ground for this species of flamingo, from Camargue in France to the Rann of Kutch in India.
The flamingos that stop at the Lake Van basin, located in the far east of Turkey, at a set time each year, arrived early this year.
?zdemir Adızel, assistant professor at Y?z?nc? Yıl University's Biology Department, emphasized that flamingos are nomadic birds.
Adızel said flamingos migrate from North Africa in the first week of February and stay around the Lake Van basin for five days. They then migrate toward Iran's Lake Urumiyeh after stopping in Turkey.
�After the flamingos lay their eggs at the basin, they return each May,� said Adızel, adding, �This year they arrived early, flamingos were at the basin at the end of April. The biggest reason for them migrating early this year is global warming.�
Migration dates have changed for most birds around the world. Aside from the fact that global warming has destroyed breeding grounds for the birds, rising structures and human activity may be other reasons for the early migration.
Adızel said flamingos can be spotted at the Lake Van basin, Lake Er?ek, and the ?elebibağ and G?r?nd? sedges. According to Adızel, the flamingos are likely to remain until the beginning of November.
The number of flamingos has reached 7,000, said Adızel, adding, �The number of flamingos rises each year because they don't have any enemies. Bird hunters do not have an interest in flamingo meat, so their breeding grounds are safe places.
�We are trying to raise consciousness around the villages of Lake Van in order to save the flamingos,� he said.
