Eric! Developments...
Just in time for Christmas, my wonderful little charges were introduced by Sparky and Claire one rainy thursday into the Lesser house for the very first time.
After an intensive 3 month rearing period, the point had come almost overnight, that they needed the companionship and positive influence of adult flamingos.
The transition proved far easier than I could have anticipated, with the babes running down the 1/2 miles top hut lane with ease, neogtiating gates, traffic, staff, and members of the public too (you lucky few!) straight through the wader shore exhibit, and into the house! It is incredible to observe their interaction with humans. You can see here in the photo that little blue is taking refuge with Jenny during a moment of fear, but once in the flock itself they show absolutely no interest in human interaction... It is wonderful to observe how the balance of tame VS wild behaviours in the rearing process has worked so well.
We chose the lesser house and not the chilean house for a couple of reasons... Firstly, the chilean house is a nightmare in icy weather and the chicks would find it very hard being locked in every night. The competition amongst the males would be very high, and with a total of 140+ individuals, foodbowl competition might also prove too much. The lesser house on the other hand has only 40+ birds of a slightly old and arthritic nature, who are relatively disinterested in newcomers, especially those of another species. Despite their age however the lessers still call, display and behave in an educating way to young flamingo who still has yet to learn how to filter feed, display and ineract. Since their arrival, the babes have settled in almost seamlessly to the group. For a day they stood separate to the main group a little disconcerted; but very quickly indeed they started to mingle. Their final visit was filmed and broadcast by ITV news west, and that night they experienced their very first sleep over! It was lovely watching them snuggle down to sleep on one leg, pink feathers poking through the down, within a real flock of flamingos.
The large picture below shows what I found that first morning; 3 happy little grey shapes. Do come down to the lesser house this winter and say hello!
