An update on the new arrivals.
Can you spot the Martin Mere birds?!
A quick installment on the new greater flamingos that arrived at WWT Slimbridge from WWT Martin Mere last week. The birds have all settled in well and have been integrated into the new flock. Flamingo transportation can be quite a fraught affair, but the folks at WWT have it down to a fine art. The birds are housed in special crate that allows them to stand on a comforting straw bed and are they are given plenty of time to be accustomed to their new surroundings in daylight. The birds from the Martin Mere flock have now blended in to the larger group at Slimbridge and this is a good sign; ostracised or out-cast flamingos make for a pitiful sight and these ever-so sociable of birds like to feel part of a group. Except for young birds or juveniles (who naturally gravitate to the edges of a flock), a single flamingo that spends the majority of time by itself s not normally a good sign. The fact that the Martin Mere birds cannot easily be picked out (unless you stand and watch for a good deal of time and know their ring codes) is testament to the hard-work and good animal management skills of the aviculturists in getting them settled and contented so quickly.
