Flamingos


Red-coloured cranes of Anatolia…
Flamingos…
You may encounter these magnificent birds, which resemble an arrow flying in the sky with their long curved necks and thin legs, on the 25th kilometre of Milas-Bodrum highway.
Let us mention that at the beginning of this article that these elegant birds, which have chosen Anatolia for thousands of years, have been giving our folk songs inspiration. When they say “Alli Turnalar” (Red cranes) in the folk songs, they actually mean “Flamingos”.
They are migratory birds. They have long curved necks, thin long legs and curved beaks.
The main reason they are called red-coloured cranes is that they do look reddish. The way they look is caused by what they eat. The flamingos we are used to seeing with shades of red and pink take these colours from a particular species fed to them. The name of this species is artemia (Brine shrimp).
They prefer places with extraordinary natural conditions on earth. What makes these places irreplaceable for them is that the water is shallow, salty, alkalised and nutritionally rich.
The Wetland of Tuzla welcomes thousands of migratory birds every year.
The region, which is located between Milas and Bodrum districts of Mugla, was defined as “Important Bird Area” 2001. The area of 940 acres is a candidate for the Ramsar Convention.
Every year almost 250 bird species visit the region. As well as 250 species of poultry such as dalmatian pelicans, flamingos, white pelicans, fish eagles, grey herons, geese, ducks, black-headed gulls, crossbills, great egrets, pintails and spoonbills and widgeons; wild animals such as terrapins, various types of snakes, wild boars, badgers, foxes and crested porcupines also dwell in the area.
The red crane of mine, what are you doing in the sky, 
As my wing is broken, here I have to survive.