Flamingos are threatened by habitat loss, pollution, and human disturbance, which negatively impact their breeding and feeding grounds. Habitat loss comes from human activities like urban development, dams, and mining, while pollution from industrial discharge and pesticides contaminates their water sources. Human disturbance from tourism and infrastructure projects further disrupts their nesting and feeding behaviors. 

Habitat loss and disturbance

Urbanization and infrastructure: The construction of roads, housing, and other infrastructure can fragment and destroy wetland habitats. 

Water diversion: Dams, channels, and irrigation projects can alter the water levels in their shallow water environments, which are essential for their survival and feeding. 

Mining: The extraction of minerals like lithium, boron, and nitrates can cause significant habitat disturbances near breeding and feeding sites. 

Human activity: Low-flying aircraft, tourists, and birdwatchers can disturb nesting and feeding areas, affecting their lifestyle and success. 

Pollution

Chemical contamination: Runoff from industrial and agricultural sources introduces toxins into the water. 

Bioaccumulation: Toxic substances, such as heavy metals, accumulate in the bodies of animals lower in the food chain and can be lethal when they are ingested by flamingos. 

Specific threats: For example, the Andean flamingo is threatened by water contamination, and the lesser flamingo in East Africa has been impacted by pollution and rising water levels. 

Other threats

Egg collection: In some areas, flamingo eggs are collected for food. 

Climate change: Changes in water levels and productivity due to climate change also pose

a threat

. Limit Your Pollution. This is especially true if you live near to where wild flamingos do, but even if you don't, it's still generally a good idea to not pollute any more than you must.