These are majestic birds which seem to fold into their feathers every imaginable shade of pink. Flamingos, specifically the Greater Flamingos, are synonymous with the Camargue region of south central France, a region known for its wetlands, wild horses and small bulls. The emblematic bird of the Camargue (and wetlands the world over), is the flamingo which had once deserted the region until the Tour du Valat, a research institute dedicated to the conservation of Mediterranean wetlands created in 1954 by Luc Hoffmann, decided to get involved. Luc Hoffmann would organize the first bird ringings of these fascinating creatures in order to learn more about them and ultimately protect them. And so since the 1970s, these birds have massively returned to the Camargue.

But the work of the association continues and the Tour du Valat offers the possibility of adopting a flamingo with the adoption fees contributing to the protection and monitoring of these birds and the wetlands they thrive in and which are among the most fragile eco-systems on the planet as well as financing equipment for the ornithologists who observe them in and around the Mediterranean. It’s a great gift to yourself or for family and friends.

The flamingo godparents receive an e-mail every time their « flamingo » has been observed and receive the Tour de Valat’s publication la Gazette des flamants roses, (The Pink Flamingo Gazette). And depending upon the adoption plan you opt for, you will be invited to the Pink Flamingo Godparents Day in the Camargue and you can even be chosen to participate in a bird ringing session. And your contributions are tax deductible. Just head over to https://monflamant.com/en/ (it’s in English).
©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette