Flamingos

I was surprised to learn today that a friend of mine, who's lived here at least 15 years, did not know of the flamingos down near Sabah maternity hospital and the Free Zone area. Here's a pic of them in the bay area and some info on flamingos.

There are six different species of flamingo worldwide. The greater flamingo has the widest distribution of them all. Flamingos are found in wetland habitats; on coastal lagoons, mud flats and inland at large shallow lakes which may be very saline (salty) or highly alkaline (caustic, high pH). Flamingos stand up to 150 cm high, on long legs. The head is a peculiar shape - and when feeding, the bill is placed in the water upside down. Flamingos are gregarious birds, living in groups called flocks or 'stands' numbering from a few individuals to tens of thousands. Whether feeding or nesting they remain closely packed together. Pairs are monogamous - they stay together for life. They are pink due to their diet from the rich sources of carotenoid pigments (like the pigments of carrots) in the algae and small crustaceans that the birds eat. You will find flamingos at Sulaibikat Bay area in spring and autumn.