Türkiye: Temporary pond hosts flamingos in central Türkiye.

SHOTLIST KAYSERI, TÜRKIYE (APRIL 30, 2026) 1. VARIOUS DRONE SHOTS OS FLAMINGOS IN POND 2. (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) PRESIDENT OF THE PALAS SOCIAL CULTURE AND SOLIDARITY ASSOCIATION, MURAT OZDEMIR, SAYING: “The goal was simply to irrigate this area.” 3. WHITE FLASH 4. (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) PRESIDENT OF THE PALAS SOCIAL CULTURE AND SOLIDARITY ASSOCIATION, MURAT OZDEMIR, SAYING: “This artificial pond shows us that nature never leaves any effort made on its behalf unrewarded." KAYSERI, TÜRKIYE - APRIL 30: A temporary pond created by villagers to irrigate pastureland in Türkiye’s central province of Kayseri has unexpectedly become a haven for flamingos and other bird species, demonstrating how human effort and nature can work in harmony. Residents of Palas neighborhood in Sarioglan district joined forces to dig a channel to water vegetation in a local pasture, where approximately 20,000 head of small livestock graze. The initiative aimed to address recurring water shortages that had previously caused vegetation to dry up before the end of spring. Following the channel's completion, heavy snowfall and rainfall filled an area locally known as Berdilik, transforming more than half of the 750-decare pasture into a temporary wetland. The newly formed pond now provides a feeding ground for numerous bird species, most notably flamingos, known in Turkish as “alli turna” or “rose-colored cranes”. Murat Ozdemir, president of the Palas Social Culture and Solidarity Association, told Anadolu that the region has seen significantly higher precipitation levels in recent years compared to previous periods. The goal was simply to irrigate this area, Ozdemir said “This artificial pond shows us that nature never leaves any effort made on its behalf unrewarded,” he added.