The beauty of Bazaruto Archipelago embraces diverse wildlife and its multi ecosystem habitat. Our visitors are privileged to see not only vast array of marine animals, monitoring of which is at the core of the BCSS operations, but also a variety of terrestrial species and myriads of residential and migratory birds.
Recently, guests of the BCSS were intrigued by an unusual sight in the intertidal zone of the Benguerra lagoon – multiple peculiar round structures on the soft mud. The architects behind these ornamental patterns are none other than the flamingos of the region.
Flamingos feeding structures in the soft mudflats of Benguerra lagoon. (BCSS guest Svetlana Kostromina)
Bazaruto archipelago is home to two fascinating flamingo species: the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) and the Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor). These birds besides their striking pink plumage and graceful movements, are also skilled filter feeders, capable of creating intricate feeding structures in the soft mudflats and shallow waters of the archipelago. One particular type of structure, dubbed by scientists a “rotating-stamping structure,” that has recently been described in detail in a study on Chilean Flamingos, has gathered our attention for its ornamental, almost artistic appearance.
(BCSS/Orlando Miranda & Salvador Colvee)
The Secret of Flamingo Feeding Behavior
Flamingos are filter feeders, meaning they use their uniquely shaped bills to strain food from mud or water. However, their feeding techniques vary depending on the species and the type of food they are foraging on. The Greater Flamingo, with its broader bill, primarily feeds on small invertebrates, such as chironomid larvae, and seeds it finds in the mud. The Lesser Flamingo is specialized to feed on tiny, microscopic organisms like the blue-green algae Spirulina and diatoms.
Interestingly, both species can coexist and forage in the same habitat without competing, as their specific diets ensure they target different food. The diversity in their feeding habits is one of the many examples, showing how species can adapt to thrive in shared environments.
The morphology of feeding structures produced by rotating stamping by Chilean Flamingos (Barcelos-Silveira 2023)
The Rotating-Stamping Phenomenon
The round structures that caught the attention of BCSS visitors on Benguerra Island are produced by a specific behaviour of flamingos known as “rotating stamping.” Flamingos, particularly in shallow waters with soft, muddy substrates, use their large feet to agitate the surface, creating a whirlpool-like effect that helps stir up food from the sediment. As they stamp in a circular motion, the flamingo’s body pivots around its head or feet, creating an elaborately architected central mound surrounded by a trench-like formation of overlapping footprints.
Other seabirds (different species) (BCSS/Ekaterina Kalashnikova)
This choreographed behaviour serves a crucial purpose: by stirring up the mud, the flamingos expose hidden food particles, which they then filter using their specialized bills. The intricate feeding structures they leave behind are a snapshot of their efficient and fascinating feeding technique. To our delight, these structures can persist for some time in the intertidal zone, depending on tidal movements, wind, and water currents. Next time you find yourself strolling along the beaches of the Benguerra Island, keep an eye out for these round patterns in the sand.
Greater and Lesser Flamingos are key players in the island’s ecosystem, leaving behind traces of their presence in the most spectacular way. These rotating-stamping structures offer us a unique way to appreciate the fascinating behaviour of these birds and their role in shaping the landscapes they inhabit.
In Q1 of 2025, the BCSS will begin collecting spatiotemporal data on over 40 species of marine birds under the auspices of the Habitat Mapping Theme of the BCSS Ocean Observatory. This theme focuses on identifying and monitoring resident and migratory animals across space and time throughout the year to better understand their distribution in a time-series framework.
Species selected for monitoring under the auspices of Theme 2 of BCSS Ocean Observatory’s 2025 boat-based marine birds surveys. (BCSS)
Our state-of-the-art facilities and long-term spatiotemporal data collection offer unique opportunities to advance research on marine bird distribution, migration patterns, and habitat use. Join us in contributing to ongoing research in a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment. We look forward to working with experts in the field to advance avian research and make meaningful contributions to the understanding of our ecosystems.
Resources:
- Avibase – Bird Checklists of the World
- Jenkin Penelope M. 1957. The filter-feeding and food of flamingoes (Phoenicopteri) Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B240401–493 https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.1957.0004
- André Barcelos-Silveira, Paula Dentzien-Dias, Heitor Francischini, Cesar Leandro Schultz. Registration, morphology and taphonomy of feeding structures produced by Chilean Flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis) in a lagoonal/barrier depositional system in southern Brazil, Journal of South American Earth Sciences, Volume 127, 2023, 104396, ISSN 0895-9811, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsames.2023.104396
Recent news
More information:
For questions about this article, please contact:
Ekaterina Kalashnikova Bazaruto Archipelago – Ocean Observatory Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies (BCSS)
ekaterina.kalashnikova@bcssmz.org
