How fast can a flamingo go?
Hello all, very quickly as I don't want to swamp with loads of posts all at once. The Andean flamingos have been putting on a real show this week, so if you are out and about at Slimbridge be sure to head to their enclosure (the Swan Lake / Big Pen flamingo house) to catch a glimpse. Between 12 noon and 5pm is when it's been the best so far.
Here are a few videos to show how regularly this is occurring.
[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S31sKMYu0HA']
And watch how fast their legs go! It's amazing.
[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSxIccAKDnY']
And they do a good line in walking in circles.
[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WOWTxwJHo4']
Sadly, one old girl died a few days ago, which is always upsetting, but I am sharing this with you because it is important for the flock and also because it adds something very interesting to science. This grand old lady's records show that she arrived at Slimbridge around 1961/1962. So let's say she was approaching 53years of age when she died. After inspection by the animal health team, it was found that her reproductive system was still producing eggs and was fully functional. How amazing is that? Well, I think so! That a bird in its sixth decade can still think about breeding. Most animals become less fertile towards the end of their lives, and this is known as reproductive senescence (which I think is a lovely word to say)- posh science speak for "now too old to have children". But not the pink birds. They can be ready to breed when other species are thinking about retirement!
Isn't biology awesome?!
