editorial
It was in 1995 that Mark Anderson first mooted the construction of a breeding island for Lesser Flamingos in Kamfers Dam, near South Africa’s diamond-mining Mecca of Kimberley (page 42). For 10 years, his vision languished until, in 2005, he was able to convince a local mining company to support his residential development for the birds and a wonderful, flamingo-encouraging, S-shaped swirl of land rose from the dam’s waters. Notwithstanding the help of local children, who fashioned dummy, mud-walled nest turrets to entice the birds, nothing happened, and for a time it seemed that the flamingos had abandoned the dam, even as a feeding ground. Then, in January this year, Anderson returned to Kamfers Dam after his Christmas holiday to be greeted by the sight of hundreds of nesting birds and six chicks. A conservation triumph indeed.

PETER BORCHERT: Founder and Director

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cover story

Flamingo

One man’s vision and determination to support Lesser Flamingos has resulted in an island outside Kimberley becoming the sixth breeding site for this species in the world.

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