A dozen Chilean flamingo chicks have been newly hatched over the last six weeks at Longleat Safari Park.
All chicks are born with white plumage, which they keep for around three years, and a straight bill which gradually droops down as the bird grows.
“It’s been a fantastic breeding season for the flamingos and it’s lovely to watch how well the parents are looking after their chicks,” said keeper Amy Parratt.
“Flamingos aren’t always renowned for their parenting skills, but this year they seem to have excelled and the youngsters are being very well cared for,” she added.
Fully grown flamingos grow up to a metre and a half in height and can weigh anywhere up to seven kgs.
They live 15-20 years in the wild, however in captivity, and safe from predators, they can reach ages of 70 years.
Adult flamingos build a volcano-shaped nest and lay a single egg, which they then usually sit on for around a month.
The Chilean flamingo can survive at high altitude in the Andes mountains. They are also significantly more cold-hardy than their Caribbean counterparts.
In the wild flamingos eat small crustaceans and other microscopic animals and plants which are obtained by filter feeding.
When adult, the continuously moving beak acts as an efficient filter for food collection when water is pumped through the bristles of the mouth.
Longleat’s flock of close to 100 birds eat a special flamingo diet of brine shrimp and algae that contains pigments essential for maintaining their distinct colour.
