Venice's growing flamingo population finds refuge in recovering wetlands

Venice's flamingos have arrived in record numbers, underscoring the Venetian Lagoon's improving health. Last year, nearly 24,000 flamingos wintered there, up by about 8,000 from the prior season, according to ornithologist Alessandro Sartori. The 550-square-kilometer lagoon hosts flamingos mostly in fishing valleys and mudflats, with only rare sightings in Venice's canal-centric historic center. Environmentalists see the birds as a sign that wetlands restoration is expanding suitable feeding grounds, and researchers are watching for signs of nesting that would indicate a self-sustaining population. Two nesting attempts occurred in the northern lagoon in 2008 and 2013, underscoring habitat constraints and the fragility of nesting sites. Over 90% of counted birds last year were in the northern lagoon, where natural salt marsh habitat remains but faces erosion and human pressures. A broader plan to reconstruct salt marshes in the southern lagoon, beyond the historic center and Marghera port, aims to attract more flamingos and diversify feeding grounds. The WaterLANDS project, worth 23.6 million euros over five years, supports these restoration efforts across Europe, with We Are Here Venice as a local partner.