This follows after the birds returned to the site last week after they had fled from the dam about two weeks ago, owing to extreme heat conditions which caused the flamingos to go elsewhere for food and water, in the process abandoning over 3 000 flamingo chicks.

"We have seen that when there's human disturbance at the site, the flamingos will move away and when the disturbance moves off, they will then return to the nest. So the species is very cautious to disturbance. I want us to be very cautious about getting too close as any human interference could result in them abandoning the breeding attempt," says Anderson.

Anderson further said that Birdlife SA has people on site at the dam to watch the birds and currently assess the situation. Currently, Anderson said the adult birds are sitting tightly on the nests, while the young chicks are showing signs of activity and doing well. There are only a few chicks at the dam after another group of over 3000 chicks was transported to various places of safety and rehabilitation centres across the country after their parents abandoned them in search for water and food elsewhere. The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), along with the Provincial Department of Environmental Affairs and non-profit organisations, embarked on a massive rescue of over 1500 flamingo chicks which were abandoned at the Kamfers Dam. The chicks are reportedly doing well at these places of safety and will be returned back to the dam once they've been nursed back to safety and will be old enough to return. According to Anderson, the Dam is one of only four breeding sites on the continent for the Lesser Flamingo species.

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