Lesvos: A birdwatcher’s paradise full of rare species

The quest for a Krüper's Nuthatch is what stirs all the excitement. From early morning, we've been wandering through the pine forest at Mikri Limni, treading on a carpet of pine needles - but there's no sign of the bird. We've chosen to come late in the season because summer is a tough season for birdwatching. Only the flamingos in the Kalloni Salt Pans and Mesot Lagoon remain indifferent to the changing seasons. These magnificent birds spend their entire day wading in the water, even under the scorching midday sun, with temperatures exceeding 30°C, perambulating serenely as if nothing could disturb them.

Elena Galinou, an environmental scientist at the Management Unit for Protected Areas in the Northeastern Aegean (part of the Organization for Natural Environment and Climate Change, or OFYPEKA), tells us that these flamingos are remarkably resilient to extreme temperatures....