The traditional annual count of pink flamingos at the Parco Natura Viva in Bussolengo has been completed, yielding a positive result: 180 adults and 10 young birds were counted. During the counting operation, information on the microchips of the specimens was verified, identifying rings were checked, and some feathers were collected for sex analysis of individuals born last year.
The colony of pink flamingos in the park is numerous and in good health, with at least 40 pairs present on the island. The pairs are currently engaged in nest preparation and vying for the best positions. The goal is to build the nests about 30-40 centimeters above the ground to protect the eggs from flooding.
According to Camillo Sandri, the zoological director of Parco Natura Viva, it is possible that the first egg will be laid in these Easter days. About 28 days after the egg is laid, the first chicks with their characteristic gray plumage can be observed, usually around the end of April.
The colony of pink flamingos at Parco Natura Viva is the subject of numerous scientific publications and has witnessed an average reproductive success rate of 60%, double that documented in the wild. The specimens born in the Verona park often become founders of new reproductive colonies hosted in other Italian facilities.
Italian coasts have witnessed the gradual return of pink flamingos, from Puglia to the Po Delta, passing through Sicily and Sardinia. However, the species continues to face threats in wetland areas, including water pollution. Power lines, motorboats, and low-flying aircraft also contribute to the degradation of their habitat.
Parco Natura Viva is therefore preparing to welcome the first pink flamingo chick, which will remain on the nest with its parents until it is able to wade into the pond and join the newborns in the nursery. In this dynamic, even individuals that have not formed pairs will be called upon to monitor the entire group of chicks, while waiting for the parents to feed them regularly.
The annual count of pink flamingos is an important operation to monitor the population and health of this iconic species of Lake Garda.
