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The birds have been flocking to Maly Taldykol, a small pure lake within the centre of the town, attracting admirers from close by high-rise buildings and throughout.
Traditionally, pink flamingos, pelicans and different migratory birds, have chosen nesting websites in lakes within the Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve, a part of a UNESCO World Heritage web site, roughly 130 kilometres southwest of the capital.
This 12 months, the flamingos once more returned to Nur-Sultan, a stopping level on their lengthy journey south.
Witnesses to alter
Roughly 2,000 of the world’s 11,000 fowl species migrate, with some protecting huge distances, utilizing broad pathways generally known as flyways which span a number of nations. World Migratory Chook Day on 9 October celebrates them, and nature.
“Migratory birds bear witness to and are impacted by, the triple planetary disaster of local weather change, biodiversity loss and air pollution,” stated Inger Andersen, head of the UN Atmosphere Programme (UNEP).
“Making progress on reigning in local weather change and ending biodiversity loss is crucial to the survival of migratory birds. The journey of a migratory fowl is aware of no borders and subsequently, neither ought to our response to the planetary disaster.”
Nur-Sultan is positioned in central Kazakhstan, in a semi-arid steppe area which covers many of the Central Asian nation.
The realm surrounding Maly Taldykol lake as soon as stretched for infinite kilometres. In recent times, fashionable high-rise buildings have sprung up across the reservoir following the switch of the capital from the south, in 1997.
Stopping to refuel
Ruslan Urazaliev, an ornithologist and researcher on the Kazakh Affiliation for Biodiversity Conservation, defined why his nation is a haven for migratory birds.
“Since Kazakhstan is geographically positioned within the centre of the continent, two migration routes go by means of the central a part of the nation, specifically by means of our capital — Afro-Eurasian and Central Asian — and, accordingly, an enormous stream of birds passes by means of this territory,” he stated.
The knowledgeable recalled that the closest nesting colony of flamingos is within the Korgalzhyn reserve. Those that flew to the capital got here looking for meals, and to relaxation up, earlier than heading to hotter climes.
“Lake Maly Taldykol is typical for flamingos. They’ll filter water on it and hunt invertebrates. Flamingos love shallow lakes,” stated Mr. Urazaliev.
Final week, he counted 83 flamingos throughout the Taldykol lake system. The bulk, 63, have been adults. The others have been gray, indicating they have been nonetheless younger, however “in a 12 months, the birds will start to accumulate their well-known pink color.”
Simply passing by means of
How lengthy the flamingos will stay in Nur-Sultan is unknown. Within the Korgalzhyn reserve, they usually keep till the lake is roofed with ice.
Forecasters are predicting frosty climate this week, and Mr. Urazaliev believes their go to to the capital will likely be fleeting. The town, together with Maly Taldykol lake, is “not a territory for wintering”, and the flamingos will likely be round for so long as climate circumstances and meals enable.
“Their ‘meteorological service’ works higher than a human’s, they usually know higher when to maneuver. They won’t keep for the winter unambiguously,” he stated, although including weaker birds “might merely not be capable of fly away.”
Till then, the love affair continues between the residents of Nur-Sultan and their feathered buddies, and simply in time for World Migratory Chook Day, when persons are inspired to attach and re-connect with nature.
The Day is widely known twice a 12 months, on the second Saturday in Might and October, in recognition of the cyclical nature of fowl migration and the completely different peak instances alongside the flyways.
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