Spotlight on Zoo Science
July 31,
2003
Flamingo Success—At Last
Long-term National Zoo efforts to breed flamingos have finally paid off.
One of the must-see exhibits at the Smithsonian's National Zoo is the flamingo yard, full of tall, lanky, coral-colored birds. For decades, visitors have flocked to admire the flamingos, never knowing about the behind-the-scenes struggle that went on for years to propagate them.
This spring and summer, zoogoers could see not only the brilliantly feathered adults, but the light-gray-colored youngsters as well (they will turn pink as they age). But the presence of baby and young birds is evidence that years of work to breed the species has paid off.
Fifteen years ago, the Zoo was having trouble breeding flamingos and raising any young that hatched. Keepers, curators, and scientists tried a number of innovative ideas. First they made artificial nests to encourage the birds to lay eggs. Then, because large numbers stimulate flamingo mating, they set up mirrors to make the flamingos think there were double the actual number of birds. Soon after that, in 1990, the National Zoo brought in ten new flamingos from a Bermuda zoo to increase the flock’s population.
Despite all these actions, the Zoo did not see an egg hatch into a live chick until 1992. For the next five years, eggs were laid, but many did not hatch. Those that did hatch received inadequate parental care, and the Bird House staff was forced to hand-rear them—with great success. Between 1992 and 1998, bird keepers successfully raised more than two-dozen flamingo chicks. Many of those became part of the flock.
In 1998, perhaps because the flock numbers had grown and stimulated proper mating and parenting behavior, or possibly because breeding birds had gained sufficient experience in laying eggs and trying to hatch and rear young, the situation changed. Several flamingos mated, laid eggs, hatched young, and reared them successfully. Better yet, they have been doing it every year since, and many of the hand-reared chicks have mated, laid eggs, and successfully raised chicks of their own.
So, today, Zoo visitors can see a vibrant, noisy flamingo yard, full of vocal, active birds--both young and old. The long-term future of the flock at the National Zoo looks promising—thanks to the determination of Bird House staff members to try to solve the mystery of propagation at the Zoo's flamingo exhibit, combined with a little good fortune—perhaps the helping hand of Mother Nature?
—Robert Hoage
