A story of Fillymingoes and Salt

The Inagua landscape is dominated by either the Morton Salt company's vast reservoirs or the salt pans where it produces salt by solar evaporation. It is a stark and harsh landscape. 


We wound our way along the edges of the pans and reservoirs to access the Inagua National Park to get to Lake Rosa. The preservation of these 'fillymingoes' which is how the Bahamians pronounce flamingoes - has been a joint action between Morton's and the Bahamas National Trust, and these birds have been brought back from near extinction to more than 50000 birds here on Inagua.

Phoenicopterus rubber,  are gorgeous birds with vividly pink feathers and they stand 120 to 140cm high. They were hunted for their meat, especially the tongue, and for their feathers, Fred was so frustrated trying to get  a good photo which was almost impossible  as they are very skittish!  The birds like the many salt ponds on Inagua that supply their favorite meal—brine shrimp and also creates the famously crimson color.

Caribbean Flamingo