Prime Minister Edi Rama shared images on Saturday on social media of flamingos flying over the Karavasta Lagoon, which, since the park was declared a protected area, has attracted more and more visitors.

“The first weekend of 2025, with the sun shining despite the chill, presents a perfect opportunity to visit one of nature’s most exquisite creations, the Karavasta Lagoon,” writes Rama.

Flamingos are migratory birds that thrive in warm climate and are drawn to shallow, salty waters rich in their preferred food. In Albania, they are commonly found in the Narta Lagoon, Karavasta Lagoon, and Lake Pogradec.

Flamingos soar in groups and travel hundreds of kilometers during their migration.

The flamingos fly in long lines or a V-formation, heading towards their destination – a saltwater lake, which provides an ideal location for nesting and raising their young.

The Karavasta Lagoon is ranked among the major lagoons, both as an important area for migratory species and as a habitat for over 20,000 wintering birds.

During the summer, the lagoon is also frequented by other bird species. It is particularly known for hosting a large colony of curly pelicans, the only coastal nesting site in Albania.

“The ban on hunting for a certain period has led to a noticeable increase in the colony of pelicans, even flamingos, which were extremely rare.”

/sm/