With fewer humans to fear, flamingos flock to Albania lagoon

NARTA, Albania (AP) — Virus home confinement rules have upset some people in Albania. But humans getting their wings clipped during the coronavirus pandemic is allowing flamingos and other birds to flourish in a coastal lagoon by the Adriatic Sea. Local officials and residents say the flamingo population is up to about 3,000 at Narta Lagoon, an important waterfowl habitat. Bird watchers also have noticed more pelicans, herons and other species at the 28-square-kilometer (10-square-mile) lagoon this spring. A biodiversity expert says flamingos are flocking to the site because the pandemic halted operations at a nearby salt works and other human activity that had scared them off.