Spanish National News

FLAMINGO NUMBERS INCREASE IN LA MATA

One of the four species of Avocet feeding in the lagoon of La Mata

The natural Wildlife Park of the Lagunas de La Mata-Torrevieja has so far welcomed over 1,000 flamingos this year breaking its own record for the nesting birds.

The figure was confirmed by the Department of the Environment, which said that the previous highest figure was recorded in 2008 when 750 of the birds spent the season nesting, a number that dropped considerably in the following years.

The same sources explained that “the excellent water conditions and the increased presence of the brine shrimp, a species of crustacean that flamingos are especially fond of, in the lagoon of La Mata have led to this dramatic increase in the population, and if conditions don’t change too much in the lagoon, the flamingos could stay all year.

Another fact that confirms the increasing numbers in the park comes from the breeding census conducted by DoE staff last June.

This study has found “a dramatic increase” in the breeding population of Gaviota picofina (Larus genei). Although there was no census conducted last year the 2014 figure shows that 620 chicks have been produce.

The estimated population of this bird in Spain is around 1,000 pairs, so the Natural Park of La Mata-Torrevieja, has 60 percent of the population, “and continues to be a valuable haven for the conservation of this species,” according the Department.

One of the birds said to be especially appreciated by ornithologists is the Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), a small wader in the plover bird family, where 74 nesting pairs have been recorded. In many parts of the world, it had become difficult for this species to breed on beaches because of disturbance from the activities of humans or their animals so to see their numbers increasing locally is said to be of particular significance.

Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/44741/

Published

10 years ago

Aug 31, 2014

National Spanish News Roundup from theleader.info

One of the four species of Avocet feeding in the lagoon of La Mata

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The natural Wildlife Park of the Lagunas de La Mata-Torrevieja has so far welcomed over 1,000 flamingos this year breaking its own record for the nesting birds.

The same sources explained that "the excellent water conditions and the increased presence of the brine shrimp, a species of crustacean that flamingos are especially fond of, in the lagoon of La Mata have led to this dramatic increase in the population, and if conditions don’t change too much in the lagoon, the flamingos could stay all year.

Another fact that confirms the increasing numbers in the park comes from the breeding census conducted by DoE staff last June.

This study has found "a dramatic increase" in the breeding population of Gaviota picofina (Larus genei). Although there was no census conducted last year the 2014 figure shows that 620 chicks have been produce.

The estimated population of this bird in Spain is around 1,000 pairs, so the Natural Park of La Mata-Torrevieja, has 60 percent of the population, "and continues to be a valuable haven for the conservation of this species," according the Department.

Filed under: http://www.theleader.info/article/44741/