Flamingo catch
We have been catching up our Greater flamingos today for their check-up that they receive every 2 years. We have to do this for a number of reasons:
- The adult flamingos have their micro-chip checked for identification purposes as well as their darvic rings, replacing any broken / missing rings
- Each juvenile flamingo is fitted with a darvic ring and micro-chip. A feather sample is also collected to be sent to a laboratory to determine the sex of the flamingo
- The weight and head, bill & tarsus length are measured on all flamingos. We also photograph the feet as flamingos can be prone to footproblems.
All of this data is used for research purposes, we can assess how they are growing and identify any significant changes in their weight. We can also judge how well biometrics can be used to sex the flamingos rather than having to use expensive blood tests. At the last catch in 2010 we had a 93% accuracy in sexing adult birds using biometrics.
Due to yet another successful breeding season, our flock is increasing in size. As a result, the flamingo house is not large enough to accommodate the flock if they need to be shut in during bad weather. Therefore, 10 non-breeding adults have also been moved to WWT Slimbridge to join their existing flock, and they should be on the M6 as I am writing this blog!
