Flamingos stage magical show in Larnaca

A flamboyance of flamingos have descended upon the Larnaca salt lake as they do every year at the beginning of the rain season, with the pink birds painting a magical picture against the glistening backdrop of the salty water.

The Larnaca salt lake hosts the migratory birds every year between the wetter months of November and March, when the flamingos come in search of their food of choice, brine shrimp, that contains high levels of beta carotene that contributes to their pinkish colour.

Cyprus hosts the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) species of the bird, the largest species of flamingo in the world. They are usually found in Africa, the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East and southern Europe.

The Greater Flamingo becomes sexually mature at the age of two to three years. It is a monogamous species that nests in colonies. The female lays one to two eggs which she incubates for 28-29 days. The young leave the nest 70-75 days after hatching. They do not reproduce in Cyprus, although a few years ago they unsuccessfully tried to nest in the Akrotiri salt lake.

The Greater Flamingo can live up to 33 years in the wild, and up to 40 in captivity.