Birds of Limnos
My Hot Spots
These are large wading birds of shallow salt or brackish water. They have extremely long neck and long slim legs. The beak is heavy and curved downwards. The pink color of their wings comes mainly from a chemical canthaxanthin. They feed on small aquatic animals (crustaceans, insects, worms) and plankton, filtering muddy water sticking in a unique way beak upside down. Their nest is a small hillock made of mud.
They are nomadic, who can wander for years to find suitable conditions for nesting. They are nesting in colonies, but not every year. The European race is reproduced in various wetlands of our country. The strict protection of the main breeding areas in the Mediterranean has led to significant population growth and creation of new colonies.
