Exciting developments at Martin Mere!

23 August 2013

I popped up to WWT Martin Mere briefly the other day on my way back from a research meeting and I thought I would provide a quick update on the activities of the flamingos that reside in Lancashire. Whilst this diary is mainly Slimbridge-focussed, my PhD spreads outwards from this one WWT centre to other centres and indeed to other zoos too. There is currently much excitement surrounding the Chilean flamingos at Martin Mere. Lots of breeding activity going on; birds nest building, pair-following and trying to mate. Talking to the aviculturists at Martin Mere, the Chileans have caused much heartache over the past few years with their "will they, won't they" reproductive activity. Flamingos are, after all, nothing if not fickle.

It seems that changes to their enclosure layout and the bird's decision to build nests under trees has come up trumps. I have wittered on before about how flamingos, when they nest, like to feel secure and in a huge colony this may come from being surrounded by a sea of legs. Here, the birds use fences, trees, bushes or whatever to create the same visual barrier. Beautifully demonstrated by the Martin Mere Chilean flamingos who have created a vast nesting area under the trees at the back of their enclosure. Here's to a successful season for them.

Spot the birdie? The Chilean flamingos at WWT Martin Mere have decided that babies under the trees is best for 2013. — Spot the birdie? Looking in from the public fence, the Chilean flamingos at WWT Martin Mere have decided that babies under the trees is best for 2013.

Here they are! Nestled amongst the undergrowth, a safe and secluded spot for the birds to raise their young.

Their paler, taller cousins, the greater flamingos, also like to breed up against a fence in a sheltered spot and are renown amongst staff and regular Martin Mere visitors for using bark chips to build their nests from. This very successful breeding colony has had another good year and many lanky, slightly out-of-proportion chicks can now be seen scuttling around the colony.

Bit of a squabble? The breeding flock of greater flamingos at Martin Mere nest builds and raises young right against the fence of the pen next door.

It's easy to see why the greater flamingos are such a popular exhibit. There enclosure is laid out so that visitors to Martin Mere can get a really close encounter with these tall, pink birds. Is the path there for the visitors to walk down or for the flamingos to parade on?! Check out the video below and decide for yourselves. Better still, go pay them a visit!

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llCeleXnkFg']