Flamingos are one of the most popular animals exhibited in animal collections. If you’re keen to learn more about them and delve deeper in the ways in which WWT keeps its flamingos then follow Paul's diary up-to-date with all things flamingo. Paul Rose is a PhD student from the University of Exeter’s Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, currently based in the Conservation Programmes Directorate at WWT, who is investigating the social behaviour of captive flamingo flock
Flamingo diary
Notable birds to look out for... the young Chileans.
The young Chilean flamingos that were hand-reared by the aviculture staff at WWT Slimbridge (Phoebe, Phil, Mark amongst them) back in 2011 are now big strapping individuals romping around the South American Pen with the rest of the adult Chileans in the 1
11 May 2013
Flamingo fun in the sun
If you read the literature that has been produced on keeping flamingos happy and healthy it will explain a lot about how much flamingos benefit from exposure to direct sunlight and enjoy spending time in sunny areas of their enclosures. The sudden spe
4 May 2013
Finished home improvements!
And just a quick update to say that the changes to the Caribbean flamingos' enclosure are now all done. New nesting sites have been created by Phil and the other avics, and new estuary sand has been delivered into the enclosure (in a similar fashion to
29 April 2013
Home improvements for the Caribbean flamingos
If the living standards for the flamingos at WWT Slimbridge couldn't be high enough already, Sparky, Phil & Co. have been making changes to the Caribbean flamingos' pen this past week to make it even better for these brightest and most flouncy of flam
27 April 2013
Feeding frenzy... one to watch out for!
All pile in! Greater flamingos foraging around the edge of Flamingo Lagoon. If you're lucky enough to be around Slimbridge at the time of the afternoon duck feed, then wander over to the South American Pen and to Flam
20 April 2013
Notable birds to look out for... the married couple?
There are two Andean flamingos residing at WWT Slimbridge that are firm friends and practically joined at the proverbial hip. As the Andean flock has been together for a very long time, one would assume that relationships could have the potential to form
18 April 2013
Flamingo verhalten im Deutschland*
*Flamingo behaviour in Germany. This past week I have left behind the cold environs of Slimbridge and journeyed to the equally cold climate of central Berlin. Not that I was especially looking for sunshine on this particular visit abroad. My trip to Zoo
12 April 2013
Sandcastles for flamingos?
There have been some developments in Flamingo Lagoon over the past couple days; whilst the cold weather and iced-over water have kept the birds inside, the avics have been busy preparing new feeding and nesting areas for the birds. As part of this pro
30 March 2013
Keeping the birds cosy when it snows.
The unseasonal March weather (read that as temperatures around freezing and lots of snow flurries) have seen the flamingo flocks at WWT Slimbridge being given extra care and attention (more so than what is normally lavished on them) to stop them from feel
27 March 2013
Keeping clean, with your friends!
One of the most noticeable aspects of bird social biology, that lots of animal behaviour scientists will tell you, is that birds who like each other tend to bath together (if they are a group-living species). And this is especially true of flamingos.
19 March 2013
Notable birds to look out for... the tall Caribbean.
I thought I would have a go at introducing "notable flamingos" for visitors to WWT Slimbridge to have a look out for on their visits to the site. These could be birds that are specifically active or tell an interesting story. I have already been wittering
12 March 2013
Inside the new flamingo house
The new Flamingo Lagoon exhibit at WWT Slimbridge contains one of the largest, purpose-built flamingo houses in any zoo that you will visit. Whilst this house is not actually on show to visitors, you can get a good idea of its scale when you are looking
21 February 2013
In the pink (bad pun I know...!)
February is upon us and spring is getting closer. The birds seem to sense this change in the weather and have been showing signs of breeding behaviour and courtship. Whilst it is obviously (too) early doors for the flamingos to be actually nest-building
9 February 2013
Flamingos at the Bird Fair 2013
Several flocks of the flamingos are out and about for this weekend's Bird Fair at WWT Slimbridge. Whilst ice is keeping the greater and Caribbean flocks tucked away safe and snug in their houses, the other three flocks of flamingos are out and about and e
26 January 2013
Why is an enclosure as big as it is?
Part of my research question for my PhD is looking at the effect of enclosure design and exhibit space on animal behaviour, and the level of activity that animals within perform. Animal enclosures need to replicate important parts of the inhabitant's natu
18 January 2013