Here at Flamingo Land Zoo we are very proud of all our animals. This summer has seen a baby boom throughout the park – from our capybara litter to both meerkat mobs adding to their families. However, as many may think, the flamingos hold a special place close to our hearts. Here at Flamingo Land we have two different species of flamingos, Chilean and Caribbean. And it is with great pleasure that I announce the birth of flamingo chicks.

The nest of a flamingo is nothing like any other bird’s nest. They create mounds in the mud to safeguard their eggs. In the wild, this is very useful as they live in the muddy edges of lakes and tidal areas. With so much water around it is imperative that the eggs and the newborn chicks are kept warm and dry. The parents will come together after an array of dancing that signals the start of the courtship – wing flapping, head bopping and circling each other is all part of the ritual. And not only does one pair do this, the entire flock begins their ritual within days of each other. And flocks of flamingos can be seen in the thousands. In fact, it is known that flamingos do not breed very well if they are kept in small numbers. It is believed that they synchronise their egg laying to ensure the maximum safety for the chicks. With all parents on guard at similar times, the chances of spotting a predator are very high. Therefore, the chicks have a better survival rate.

Here in Flamingo Land we have 76 flamingos – a great number for successful egg laying. And the natural nest-building behaviour seen in the wild is also on display here in North Yorkshire. All zoo staff got very excited during the summer as the flamingo parents began to collect nest material and create the mounds of mud. Ayshea Seston, a zookeeper here at the zoo, was keeping a careful watch over the flamingos. Ayshea keeps an eye on flamingo behaviour as sometimes tempers can flare during the breeding season. And it was with great joy that Ayshea watched over time the parents sitting on the egg. The chicks have now hatched and are making their way around, shadowing their parents, learning the feeding behaviour from the adults. Chicks will feed off their parents until they are able to digest the food themselves.

To find out more about our flamingos, visit our Flamingo Keeper Talk at 3pm daily.