Editing Andean flamingo (section)

===Mining===
The Andean flamingo's habitat is constantly changing due to human activity. The primary threat to the flamingo population is mining [[excavations]], which occur at the end of the summer rainy season.<ref name=ugarte2000>Ugarte-Nunez, J and Mosaurieta, L. 2000. "Assessment of threats to flamingos at the Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Nature Reserve (Arequipa, Peru)" Waterbirds 23(Special Issue 1):134-140.</ref>
The habitat of the Andean flamingo is rich in [[boron]] compounds, specifically borax.<ref name=ugarte2000/> [[Borax]] is fairly toxic at high dosages to animals such as the Andean flamingo, but not to humans.<ref name=mehmet2007>Korkmazm Mehmet. 2007. "Estimation of Human Daily Boron Exposure in a Boron-Rich Environment." British Journal of Nutrition. 98(3):571-575.</ref> Studies testing the effects of borax exposure in animals show that excess boron causes skeletal [[malformations]], [[cardiovascular]] defects, and [[Degeneration (medicine)|degeneration]] of [[testis|testes]].<ref name=mehmet2007/> Borax is a derivative of boric acid; a study comparing the [[toxicology]] of borates determined that salts of boric acid produce comparable effects.<ref name=mehmet2007/> A study on the mining environment determined as little as 5&nbsp;g of borax can produce adverse effects in animal populations, but human workers remain unaffected at these levels.<ref name=mehmet2007/> Therefore, the miners remain unaffected while the animals suffer from developmental and reproductive [[toxicity]].

A study on [[Salinas Lake]] in Peru showed that mining companies have established themselves adjacent to the flamingos' nesting sites, and some mining is performed near flamingo breeding grounds and feeding sites.<ref name=ugarte2000/> Flamingos abandoned their nesting sites if mining was initiated after the establishment of nesting colonies and in close proximity. An increase of [[hydrocarbon]] exploration resulted in a decreased success rate for breeding. Less than 1% of the flamingos observed were juveniles.<ref name=caziani2007/> The decreased reproductive success may be due to borax exposure or to an altered environment caused by bulldozers disturbing the lake bed.<ref name=ugarte2000/> Mining creates a muddy environment, which entraps flamingos, thus increasing mortality.<ref name=ugarte2000/> Surveys conducted on residents near the mining activities report sightings of dead flamingos exhumed by the bulldozers.<ref name=ugarte2000/>

The extraction process also affects the water availability.<ref name=ugarte2000/> Andean flamingos filter surface water for food, but borax mining pollutes this water.<ref name=hurlbert1982/> Along with the pollution, the extractions expedite the removal of lake moisture.<ref name=ugarte2000/> By limiting the amount of water in the lake, mining companies can increase visibility, thus contributing to more optimal mining.<ref name=ugarte2000/> A study comparing the correlation between water availability and flamingo population determined that the number of flamingos was strongly correlated to the proportion of water in the lake.<ref name=hurlbert1982/> With an insufficient food supply and a disturbed habitat, the decrease in offspring seems inevitable.

In Argentina, the rarest species of flamingo is primarily found in northern provinces (Salta, Catamarca, and Jujuy) during warmer months, as well as in low-lying areas of the central region, mainly Córdoba and Santa Fe. The National Mining Secretariat reports 38 lithium projects across the country, with 17 situated in the vast salt flats of Salta province.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Jemio |first=Diego |date=2024-01-27 |title=El avance de la minería de litio amenaza al flamenco andino en Argentina |url=https://elpais.com/america-futura/2024-01-27/el-avance-de-la-mineria-de-litio-amenaza-al-flamenco-andino-en-argentina.html |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=El País América |language=es}}</ref>

Biologists and conservationists have raised concerns about the negative impacts of lithium brine extraction on areas where these birds reproduce and feed. This species, part of the flamingo family alongside the Andean and James's flamingos, has been classified as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.<ref name=":0" />