In News:

The Flamingo Festival 2025 took place at Sullurpeta, in Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh. It celebrates the arrival of migratory birds, with a focus on flamingos, to the region's key bird habitats, including Pulicat Lake and Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary.

Key Highlights:

• Birdwatching: Over 200 bird species, including flamingos, are expected to flock to the region during this festival.
• Locations: The event spans across five locations:
  • Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary
  • B.V. Palem (Pulicat Lake)
  • Atakanithippa
  • Sri City
  • Sullurpeta (site for cultural programs and stalls)
• Collaborations: In association with organizations like the Bombay Natural History Society.
• Focus on Local Community: Local residents of the eco-sensitive zone will be prioritized and supported.

Key Facts on Local Wildlife and Significance:

• Pulicat Lake:
  • Location: On the Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu border, with 96% of the lake in Andhra Pradesh.
  • Significance: The second-largest brackish water lake in India (after Chilika Lake in Odisha).
  • Biodiversity: Critical habitat for migratory birds, including flamingos, and home to diverse flora and fauna.
  • Economic Importance: Supports local fisheries and provides livelihood to nearby communities.
• Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary:
  • Location: 20 km north of Pulicat Lake.
  • Ecological Role: Largest breeding site in Southeast Asia for spot-billed pelicans.
  • Biodiversity: 189 bird species, including painted storks and glossy ibises.
  • Flora and Fauna: Features Barringtonia swamp forests and southern dry evergreen scrub, critical for biodiversity conservation.
  • Symbiotic Relationship with Locals: Guano (bird droppings) from pelicans serves as a natural fertilizer for local agriculture, benefiting the farmers.

Flamingo Facts:

• Species: India hosts two flamingo species:
  • Greater Flamingo (larger size, pale pink)
  • Lesser Flamingo (smaller size, bright pink)
• Behavior: Nomadic and social birds, found in large flocks.
• Coloration: Flamingos' pink color comes from carotenoids in their diet, which are broken down and absorbed into their bodies.

Environmental & Economic Impact: The festival, apart from being a celebration of migratory birds, plays a vital role in:

• Eco-tourism development
• Biodiversity conservation

Local community engagement by highlighting sustainable tourism practices and supporting local livelihoods through eco-friendly initiatives like the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).