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Flamingos Crucial to Economy and Ecosystems

Flamingos scuffle.
Flamingos scuffle. Photo: John Moore (Getty Images)

Flamingos are a key part of life and the economy in the Atacama. The flocks of birds are a big draw for tourists, while flamingo eggs are eaten by Indigenous people living around the flats. Flamingos eat plankton and other small organisms that live in the water on the flats, which helps keep harmful bacterial blooms from forming.