Spanish Oddities
Flamingos choose not to nest in the Ebro delta this year
By h.b.
May 1, 2008 - 1:44 PM

The flamingos which are one of the famous sights of the Ebro delta in Spain have not nested there this year, as they usually do.
It’s the third time since records began that the birds have been observed nesting elsewhere, and experts are still to establish the factors which have led to the change.

1,900 pairs of flamingos which live in the area have not had any chicks this year, and experts in the Ebro National Park are puzzled as they were has been no adverse climatic or other environmental condition they are aware of. Nesting would have started by two weeks ago if it was going to happen this year.

Despite the news, park officials say they are not worried as the local population of 1,900 pairs is far higher than the 250 which were present in 1992, and a year off breeding is seen on an occasional basis.