Travel and landscape photographer Raj Mohan has captured these stunning images of flamingos on Pulicat lake in Tamil Nadu, India. The birds occasionally travel there in response to changing conditions 

THESE glorious formations of flamingos, captured by photographer Raj Mohan, add a dazzling wash of pink to Pulicat Lake in Tamil Nadu, India. 

Although flamingos aren’t generally migratory, their colonies aren’t always permanent either, and the birds will sometimes search out new breeding grounds in their thousands due to factors like changes in climate or water level. Here, they have chosen to settle in a 750-square-kilometre expanse of shallow water, one teeming with fish and plankton.

Flamingos tend to fly in a “V” formation during such journeys, which saves them energy so they can travel further. Members of the flock take it in turns to lead the V and take on the brunt of the wind resistance, while those behind each fly slightly above the bird in front of them, further reducing drag. Down on the ground, formations can take on more creative shapes, as shown by the heart-like arrangement in the image below. 

Mohan was spurred to document these epic avian congregations after wondering why he only saw the flamingos at the lake between November and May. Now, he spends time each year observing the birds’ movements and photographing their formations – something that isn’t necessarily challenging, but requires a lot of patience, he says.

“The way they always stick together in colonies is fascinating,” says Mohan. “Being an aerial photographer, I wanted to know what it’s like to see these colonies from above. It’s amazing to watch them making different formations, and those shapes are pure art!”

Article amended on 5 January 2023