Greater Flamingo

Description:

Greater flamingos at rest, standing on one leg in Kalochori lagoon. This posture may be used by the birds to conserve body heat (thermoregulation).

Habitat:

Kalochori village occupy the lowlands between the delta of Gallikos river and the west side of Thessaloniki. Since the 1960`s the wider Kalochori region is the main industrial centre of the area. Kalochori lagoon is of special interest since despite being at the edge of a large urban center with all the pressures that brings, it hosts great numbers of birds and other organisms throughout the year. The lagoon often becomes a place of refuge for large numbers of flamingos, who find ample supplies of food in its shallow waters. The lagoon offers impressive images, with birds feeding off its water, with the urban landscape and the port cranes of Thessaloniki in the background. The case of the lagoon of Kalochori is unique in Greece, as it constitutes a ‘young’ wetland, created gradually from the mid-60’s, as the result of the subsidence of the earth due to the excessive pumping of water from underground aquifers, combined with the loose composition of the soil. (http://axiosdelta.gr/en/national-park/pr...)

Notes:

Suggested accompanying music: Manos Hadjidakis, "Reflexions" (1970) https://youtu.be/Tyj8nFoWNBM