Flamingos nesting in eastern Turkey ready to migrate

By Necmettin Karaca

VAN, Turkey (AA) - Flamingos nesting in Turkey's largest lake during the summer months are ready to migrate to warmer regions of Africa.

The fluffy pink fowl with their slender necks add to the scenic natural view of Lake Van in eastern Turkey. During their two-months stay, they draw tourists as well as photographers to the region.

Zoology professor Ozdemir Adizel told Anadolu Agency that Lake Van is an important feeding ground for flamingos, along with 234 other bird species.

"Flamingos are transit species for the Lake Van basin, that is, on the way from one point to another, they come here in the spring, stay for a few months and begin migrating again in November," Adizel said.

Arif Tasdemir, deputy chair of Worldwide Photographers Association, said many events were held to capture the unique scenery around Lake Van.

"We photograph different beautiful [sites] in the region every season," Tasdemir said.

Tasdemir added that photographers also had the opportunity to promote Van as most came from different cities across Turkey.

* Writing by Erdogan Cagatay Zontur