India, June 5 -- It's June, but Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan is still alive with pink. Flamingos, which usually begin arriving around November, have touched down months after their arrival in schedule - painting the shallow salt flats in sweeping, graceful waves of pink and white.

This delayed departure has surprised many. Experts say flamingos typically migrate to Sambhar during winter, drawn by shrinking water levels that make feeding on brine shrimp and algae easier and they start to depart by March. But this year, favorable conditions - including unseasonal showers and abundant food - may have signaled the birds to stay.

According to the The census, conducted in January 2025, documented over 104,000 migratory birds, including a large n...