Flamingos fabulous at 40!
Eleven Chilean flamingos at Wearside nature reserve WWT Washington Wetland Centre are celebrating their 40th birthdays this week, and are inviting visitors to come and mark the occasion with them!
This Saturday (28 September) has been named ‘flamingo day’ at WWT Washington, who will be hosting a variety of activities including special flamingo talks and a flamingo crafts session, as well as flamingo cupcakes to celebrate the birthdays.
Dan Morrison, WWT Washington’s Animal Collection Team Manager said,
“We’re excited to be sharing this special occasion with visitors. It gives everyone the chance to learn a bit more about this fascinating bird species and about our individual birds here at the centre.
The flamingos are definitely one of our more eye-catching birds and are very popular with visitors, so we know everyone will enjoy helping us celebrate in style!”
The flamboyant flock of 56 Chilean flamingos are the only ones in the Northeast AND they're also the most northern flock in England!
They’ve been part of WWT Washington Wetland Centre's collection for over 38 years, first arriving in 1986 when the Catherine Cookson flamingo house was originally built, creating their very first exhibit at the centre. Sixteen flamingos were brought in from WWT’s founding site in Slimbridge, forming the very first flamingo flock in Washington and the Northeast.
Thirteen of the original sixteen flamingos are still at the wetland centre today, including the eleven birthday boys and girls and a further two who are at the grand age of 42 years old!
Dan added,
“Chilean flamingos can live up to their 60s, so there’s still lots of life left in these birds.
Each of our flamingos has a unique leg ring, and as part of the day’s celebrations we’re asking visitors to spot these leg rings to find different birds and learn more about them. It’s a fun activity to do and helps you feel even closer to our animals.”
WWT Washington Wetland Centre’s flock of Chilean flamingos can be seen in all their glory on Saturday 28 September, with special talks taking place at 11.45am and 2.45pm. More information about the event here.
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