For some years now, anyone visiting the northern lagoon and the fishing valleys of Cavallino-Treporti has had the chance to witness a breathtaking spectacle: entire colonies of pink flamingos coloring the water. But why have these splendid exotic birds, once confined to Sardinia or the Camargue, decided to make Cavallino-Treporti one of their favorite homes? Let's discover the secrets of this incredible migration and some unique facts about them.
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Flamingos never move by chance. If they now permanently inhabit our areas (particularly Lio Piccolo, the salt marshes, and the embanked valleys), it is because they have found the ideal ecological conditions for their survival here. There are three main reasons:
Flamingos are not born pink; the chicks are actually a grayish-white color. Their plumage becomes so vividly colored thanks to their diet, which is based almost exclusively on tiny crustaceans that inhabit brackish beds, particularly the Artemia salina (brine shrimp).
"Artemia salina is a small shrimp rich in carotenoids, organic red and orange pigments. By accumulating in the feathers during molting, these pigments transform flamingos into the 'pink giants' we all love to photograph."
| Fun Fact | How it works |
|---|---|
| Why do they stand on one leg? | It's not for exercise, but for thermoregulation. By keeping one leg tucked close to their warm body, they drastically reduce the loss of body heat in cold water. Furthermore, their bone structure allows them to "lock" the joint, spending zero muscular energy in that position. |
| They eat "upside down" | Their beak is a perfect piece of engineering. When they eat, they submerge their head upside down, use their tongue like a pump, and filter the mud, retaining only the small crustaceans thanks to internal lamellae, just like baleen whales do. |
| Great travelers | Even though we see them standing still and relaxed in Cavallino, they are birds capable of traveling up to 700 km in a single night, flying at speeds that can reach 60 km/h to move between different colonies across the Mediterranean. |
If you want to admire them up close, grab your camera or binoculars and explore the cycling paths leading to Lio Piccolo, especially at dawn or sunset, when the colors of the sky blend with the pink of their plumage.
Lately, it has also been easy to spot them from Via Pordelio; if you look carefully, you will see them, and they will be very close by!
Remember the golden rule: do not disturb! Stay on the marked paths, avoid loud noises, and do not try to make them fly just to take a picture. Their presence in Cavallino-Treporti entirely depends on the respect we show toward their newly found haven of peace.
And you, have you spotted them yet?
What is your favorite spot on the coastline for birdwatching? Share your experiences or your best shots by leaving a comment below!
Article dedicated to the fauna of the Venetian Lagoon. Biological data and facts by the editorial staff.
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