Update, 04 February 2019:

Andrew Jenkins from Save The Flamingo on Facebook has given back a positive update on 900 flamingo chicks that were rescued from the Kamfersdam in Kimberley.

Due to the recent heavy rains in the area, it is expected that in the next few days the birds should resume breeding normally.

Jenkins added that if conditions remain favourable and the nesting birds stay on track, they will hopefully avoid any further searching for or ‘harvesting’ of deserted chicks or eggs and leave the flamingos to continue their breeding season on their own terms.

Jenkins’ post read as follows:

At the beginning of this week Mark Anderson asked me if I could head to Kimberley on his behalf, to be BLSA’s eyes and ears as the Lesser Flamingo crisis at Kamfers Dam continued to unfold. With some trepidation I agreed and have spent the last four days either at the colony or chatting with many of the more significant local stakeholders.

Plenty has already been said about what has been going on with the flamingos at Kamfers Dam, and doubtless there will be plenty more. As far as I know, I’m the only person who has recently spent any meaningful time actually watching the birds at the colony, and thought it might be helpful to report the following: 1. The 2018/19 Lesser Flamingo breeding season has already been productive and is still very much underway: there are 1000s of apparently healthy and active downy chicks in creches around the edge of the colony, and several thousand (?) incubating birds in the core area that have stayed tight on their nests all week, with no obvious signs of another desertion event. 2. Last night’s big storm pushed the water-level of the dam up beyond the currently active nests in the colony, so these ‘turrets’ are once again surrounded (and cooled) by shallow water. Although the level receded a little towards this evening, there is more rain in tomorrow’s forecast so conditions for the next few days should encourage the birds to resume breeding normally. 3. In my opinion, and on the strength of 1 & 2 above, there is now a premium on keeping disturbance of the colony to an absolute minimum. Hence, for the immediate future at least, and provided that conditions stay favourable and the nesting birds stay on track, we should avoid any further searching for or ‘harvesting’ of deserted chicks or eggs and leave the flamingos to continue their breeding season on their own terms. 4. Although I will be leaving Kimberley on Monday evening, Tania Anderson will be taking over from me, continuing BLSA’s commitment to monitoring the colony through this difficult time. Despite all the recent concern and negative sentiments about the welfare of the Kamfers Dam Lesser Flamingos, the number of birds present there is astonishing and by all accounts the population is flourishing. The fact that these globally threatened birds are there at all is miraculous and hugely to the credit of a few dedicated and inspired individuals who worked together to make it happen. I’m quite sure that the same spirit of cooperation will come to the fore in overcoming the problems encountered of late, and in securing the long-term stability and security of this very special place and its magical birds. BirdLife South Africa’s current work at Kamfers Dam has been kindly funded by Ekapa Mining, the Hans Hoheisen Charitable Trust, and donations from BirdLife South Africa’s bird clubs and members.

Initial report, 28 January 2019:

Friends of Free Wildlife, a rehabilitation centre based in Kyalami, has called on the local community to make donations for 900 flamingo chicks that were rescued from the Kamfersdam in Kimberley.

The centre made the call on social media yesterday, 26 January.

“As a result of adverse climatic conditions, the Kamfersdam in Kimberley where a colony of Lesser Flamingos breed annually has started to dry up,” the post read.

“As a result, hundreds of young chicks are in dire need of rescue. [On 25 January] a total of 900 chicks were collected, housed by the SPCA in Kimberley and this morning put on a flight to Wonderboom airport. These chicks will arrive at their final destination at around 2pm [26 January]. In addition to the above 900 chicks, over the next couple of weeks, we expect to receive an additional (possible) 2000 to 3000 chicks.”

The flamingo chicks are in need of the following:

Support personnel (Vets, vet nurses and volunteers) to help with the daily feeding and husbandry



People for 2 hourly shifts 6am to 8am, 9am to 11am, 12pm to 2pm, 3pm to 5pm, and 6pm to 8pm,



Heating lamps



Feeding tubes



Food processors



Containers and trays



Cooling fans



Darrows and Ringers Lactate drips.



Thin/pediatric feeding tubes, F8 gauge



20ml syringes



Nappies or pieces of carpet



Pet food suppliers that can assist with BEEFEE, CALSUP and PETFLEX,



Nestum Baby Cereal no.1



Various vitamins/medicines



F10 (cleaning material/disinfectant)