The Chileans are quite the architects!

21 July 2013

There is a flurry of excitement at WWT Slimbridge at present as the warm weather (OK, sun-baking heat wave!) has provoked much breeding behaviour in the large flock of Chilean flamingos that reside in the South American Pen. This flock of birds has been laying later in the year over past seasons but the warmer weather has really spurred them on. This is really encouraging as the earlier that flamingo chicks hatch in the summer, the more likely they are to be raised successfully by their parents. You can see the extent of the nesting area in this short video clip below.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmbFb-Ob0X0&feature=youtu.be']

I have mentioned in previous posts about the amazing structure that is the flamingo's nest and how it is designed in a specific way to maximise chick survival, and you can see the extent to which the bird's invest in their nest building by looking at the sizes of the nests that they end up producing, as shown in the photos below. The Chilean flamingos have currently produced some rather good work!

Compare the "bespoke" nest made by the flamingo that is sat on its nest mound, to the very much flatter mounds that are prepared by the avics to encourage breeding. — Compare the "bespoke" nest made by the flamingo that is sat on its nest mound to the very much flatter mounds (front left) that are prepared by the avics to encourage breeding in the group. The flamingos add considerable height during their building work!

Spot the bird with the dirty neck?! This is an indication that the flamingo has been remodelling and moulding fresh mud around its nest, thus making it higher and higher... — Spot the bird with the dirty neck?! This is an indication that the flamingo has been remodelling and moulding fresh mud around its nest, thus making the mound higher and higher...

Chilean flamingos are classified as "Near Threatened" by the IUCN (the international union for nature conservation) due to human activities that damage their breeding, feeding and resting sites. Little is known about the extent of this bird's range in the wild and hence zoo populations are an important conservation tool to ensure that should things become critical out in the wild, this species of flamingo has a secure future. Therefore the efforts of these WWT Chilean flamingos plus the lovely sunshine that has egged them on are to be encouraged.

So good weather really is key to good nest building. Keep your fingers crossed that it continues! For more information on why this breeding activity is so closely linked to the weather as well as "inside information" from the head aviculturist Mark Roberts, see: http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit/slimbridge/news/2013/07/wwt-slimbridge-news/heatwave-encourages-flamingos-to-lay-early/