For most of the
past six months or so there have been few Lesser Flamingos at Kamfers Dam,
perhaps just a few hundred at times (10,000 or so at present) and nowhere near
the 80,000+ which have previously been recorded at Kamfers Dam.
Today we received
the latest water quality analysis from Dr Jan Roos, an algae and water quality
expert from Bloemfontein.
From the report it is clear that the reason for the lower number of flamingos
is almost certainly because of less food in the Dam. This is due to a change in
algal species composition. There has been a complete switch in the algae during
the past six or so months. Blue-green algae (Arthrospira sp.) were previously
the dominant algae, but green algae (Mesotaenium sp., 95% of algae
concentration) are now dominant. Blue-green algae are the Lesser Flamingo’s
preferred food. The reason for the change in algal species composition is not
known, but could be related to lower dissolved salts and possibly lower water
temperature. It is uncertain whether the switch is permanent or temporary.
The Homevale (Kimberley) Waste Water
Treatment Works has been fixed, but does not seem to be managed properly (poor
quality water continues to flow into Kamfers Dam). It does not appear as if
there has been progress with the pipeline to the Vaal River
for the pumping of excess, treated sewage water away from Kamfers Dam (which
would allow for more effective control of the Kamfers Dam water level).
The increased
water levels flooded the flamingo island and the important manganese railway
line on the southern/western side of Kamfers Dam. Millions of rand have been
spent by Transnet to secure the main Gauteng-Western/Eastern Cape railway line
which runs along the eastern end of Kamfers Dam (and between the N12 and the
dam), but the manganese line has apparently been decommissioned.
The rebuilding of
the flamingo island may be considered, but only if the landowner gives a
commitment (perhaps through the Biodiversity Stewardship Programme) to the
future conservation of Kamfers Dam.
We had such
success, with an estimated 24,000 Lesser Flamingo and 100 Greater Flamingo
chicks (and 100s of Grey-headed Gull chicks) hatching on the flamingo breeding
island between 2007 and 2011. It is a great pity that the success could not be
maintained, but unfortunately this is mainly due to political apathy by the
various levels of government in the Northern
Cape. If they had listened earlier (starting ten
years ago), the problems could have been fixed. If there’s a will to fix the
problems now, the work that needs to be done is not insurmountable!
Kamfers Dam is
the only place in recorded history where Lesser Flamingos have bred in South Africa, and one of only four breeding
places in Africa and six in the world. These
birds breed infrequently and often unsuccessfully at the other sites, and there
were indications that they would breed annually at Kamfers Dam. It is
unfortunate for the future conservation of the Lesser Flamingo that the
relatively simple infrastructure and water issues at Kamfers Dam could not be
resolved.
Lesser Flamingo
The Lesser
Flamingo - Phoenicopterus minor – is the smallest and most numerous
flamingo, found in Africa and in southern Asia.
Description
They are shorter
and a darker pink than the greater flamingo. Lesser flamingos also differ in
the colouration of the beak, with a deep red bill, tipped with black, whereas
the bill of greater flamingos is light pink, tipped with black. They have faint
pink feathers with black primaries and secondaries and deep crimson legs. The
eyes are yellow to orange and are surrounded by a maroon ring. Males are
slightly taller than females, and juveniles have brown feathers and a dark grey
beak.
Call
A ‘murr-err,
murr-err’ call
Food
It has a highly
specialised diet consisting almost entirely of microscopic blue-green algae - Spirulina
spp., Oscillatoria spp. and Lyngbya spp. and benthic diatoms - Navicula
spp., Bacillariophyceae - found only in alkaline lakes, salt pans and saline
lagoons and estuaries. To a lesser extent, the species will also take small
aquatic invertebrates.
Breeding
The species
breeds on large undisturbed alkaline and saline lakes, salt pans or coastal
lagoons, usually far out from the shore after seasonal rains have provided the
flooding necessary to isolate remote breeding sites from terrestrial predators
and the soft muddy material for nest building. A single chalk coloured egg is
laid and then incubated by both parents in 24 hour shifts for about 28 days. The
grey chick eats its own shell and is then fed a liquid soup by its parents for
the next few months. Each chick learns to recognise the ‘murr-err, murr-err’
call of its parents.
Conservation Status – Near Threatened
Despite being the
most numerous 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.
Birdwatching
Ask Aves Birding Tours/Safaris/Adventures to
create a tour for you to see these spectacular
birds.