Mr James - End of an Era
As a scientist, I have always been taught to view animal behaviour objectively. To not humanise the actions and activities of the animals that I study. To not get overly attached to research subjects. However, when you work closely with animals, they become important to you. I’ve written many times in this Flamingo Dairy about some of my favourite birds at WWT Slimbridge, and even though we shouldn’t have favourites, it happens all the same. And a real favourite, amongst all staff and visitors, at WWT Slimbridge was our last remaining James's flamingo, "Mr James". Mr James lived at WWT Slimbridge since the mid-1960s and he sadly died of age-related issues in February of this year. He spent pretty much all of his life living with the Andean flamingo flock, either in the flamingo enclosure that at the end of "Swan Lake" (near Wellyboot Land) or in the old South American Pen, where he, the other James's flamingos and the Andean flamingos were moved in with the Chilean flamingos in the 1990s in the hope that this bigger collective group would encourage nesting in the Andean and James's flamingos.
Mr James was certainly an old bird when he died in February 2024 although we don’t know precisely how old. Sir Peter Scott had two imports of Andean and James’s flamingos in the 1960s, it is hard to pinpoint which one included Mr James. Given that he would have been adult bird when he did arrive, he was likely in his late ‘60s or even into his ‘70s when he died. He had been the sole James's flamingo at WWT Slimbridge since 2010 but he was not lonely, as James's flamingos naturally live with Andean flamingos in the wild. The longevity of flamingos is one of my favourite facts. That these birds, which look so fragile and so delicate, can survive into their fifth, sixth, seventh, even eight decade is astounding. Seeing the flamingos at WWT Slimbridge for the first time, when I was a child in the 1980s, remains one of my earliest memories. And I think it sparked my interest in them and a desire to study animal behaviour. So I love it that some 30 years later, I got to study these self-same birds for my PhD. Not many animal species live long enough to both inspire a small child and be part of their professional work too.
As part of this Flamingo Diary in memory of Mr James I asked two of the people at WWT Slimbridge who worked with him most closely and they gave some of their fondest memories of him.
Dr Michelle O’Brien, one of the WWT veterinary surgeons who cared for Mr James said:
“Through all the changes Slimbridge has seen over the years, Mr James was a constant presence. I looked for him every time I walked past and often stopped to say hello. I have introduced him to many young children – all so excited to be able to pick him out visit after visit and introduce him to their friends. He was an individual, a character and an ambassador for so many other species. I was honoured to be part of the team that helped make sure his welfare was paramount as he aged – he was a truly special flamingo.”
And Phoebe Vaughan, who is deputy head of Living Collections at WWT Slimbridge said:
“What is Aviculture. Aviculture is about the care, conservation and continuation of birds. At Slimbridge we use our birds to send people home with conservation messages; to promote world wetlands and to let these species thrive. Of all 'avian ambassadors' on site, it would seem Mr. James was an unrealised hero. It turns out, people came to Slimbridge just to see him. Almost like a celebrity sighting! We have a lot to thank him for. He really was a special old man.
He remained one of few birds still on site likely 'held' and 'seen at some point by Sir Peter Scott himself. He connected us right back to our roots, and goodness what change has he seen in his many years, looking at us from the other side of the fence?! It is this thought that has stuck with me since we said goodbye.
In Aviculture we try to never stand still. We don’t accept things as they are. We try to make environments more enriching or we try to provide more choice. We want our birds to thrive, we want to pass on the responsibility for their care better than we received it. I wish he could have experienced the benefits of the newly renovated end wall of the Andean Flamingo House, and I wish he could have walked up and down the new 'ramps' we have installed around the nesting islands.
For me though the biggest legacy Mr. James has had is a gift to us, his Aviculture carers. The passing of a celebrity is mourned as others pass unmentioned. The countless emails and messages of concern upon his passing have been too numerous to thank individually, but thank you. In Aviculture though there cannot be celebrities. Any bird that you hold in your arms, and feel their heartbeat and their feathers against your skin as you think on their legacy, are all equally special. Maybe because of Mr. James, people may see the compassionate challenges of being an Aviculturist.”
The image above is a photo of mine, from a visit to WWT Slimbridge when I was a child, showing five of the six James's flamingos that would have been at Slimbridge at the time. I wonder which one is Mr James...
So it’s the end of an era for WWT. We no longer can say that we are the only place in the world that houses all species of flamingo, and our animal collection is a little diminished by his loss. Memories of Mr James will be cherished and the flamingos that we will continue to keep at WWT will tell is story, and the story of all flamingos, to all who visit them. Goodnight and God bless, Mr James.
