© Norman Rice / Mallorca Bird Watching
© Craig Shaw / Mallorca Bird Watching
Mallorca wetlands turn flamingo pink
Tiny crustaceans dye S'Albufera a pretty pink hue
S'Albufera Natural Park, located near Playa de Muro, is Mallorca's largest wetland, home to a wide variety of wildlife, especially birds. For a few days now, its waters have taken a pink hue in some areas due to a natural process.
According to the Balearics Environmental Agency, this is caused by the presence of 'artemia' or 'brine shrimp', a small Mediterranean crustacean that has proliferated thanks to the high saline content of the water and its rise in temperature. But this is not at all bad news, artemia is the preferred food of many of the birds that live in S'Albufera, especially flamingos who are pink precisely because they feed off these tiny water animals.
Greater Flamingos can be seen all around the Mediterranean wetlands, especially during the winter as they arrive later in the summer and depart in April. Their preferred area in Mallorca is the 'Salobrar de Campos', between the towns of Colonia de Sant Jordi and Campos, where there is a colony of around 300 but also in S'Albufera, although here the group is smaller.
You can visit S'Albufera throughout the year and it's a particularly great place for some birdwatching on the island.
