Winter guests: Flamingoes flock to Navi Mumbai’s wetlands

A flock of flamingoes have arrived at the Navi Mumbai wetlands during the winter season.

Flamingoes are wading birds, ones who live by water, such as lakes.

Flamingos aren't actually born pink. They are grey or white, and turn pink over the first couple of years of their lives -- the reddish-pink colour comes from special colouring chemicals called pigments found in the algae and invertebrates that they eat.

Flamingos are found in tropical and subtropical areas.

According to seaworld.org, flamingos are generally non-migratory birds but their flamingo colonies are not always permanent depending on the changes in the climate and water levels in their breeding areas.

While there has been no flamingo census data available until now, birders and experts believe that the number of birds visiting the wetlands of Mumbai have increased over the years.