Keeper KarinThe successful breeding of seven Chilean flamingo chicks at a Manx wildlife park represents an “amazing turnaround” for the colony, keepers have said.
Last September saw the first hatchling of the species at the Curraghs Wildlife Park for 18 years, with a further six hatching since.
General manager Kathleen Graham said it meant the Ballaugh conservation facility was now home to “the most flamingo chicks of any collection in the British Isles”.
The species has been described as “near threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Keeper KarinA spokesman for the park said keepers had built an extended beach area on the island within their enclosure, which the birds “seemed to approve” of and had begun to “build volcano-shaped nests almost straight away”.
They explained that raising the chicks in the first few weeks was “very much the responsibility of the whole colony” and said it had been “lovely” to see how the adults had gathered round to protect the little ones.
With the population at the park reaching 25, staff were hopeful the “current breeding success” would continue as “the larger the group, the more likely they are to breed”, he added.
When the chicks hatch they have grey-white down and a straight beak.
They develop their pink colour over a few years as they eat foods rich in the carotenoid pigments that make some plants, algae and crustaceans red, orange, pink and yellow.
Keeper KarinMs Graham said the team were unsure as to why there had been an influx of chicks.
“Sometimes you’re left with more questions than answers as to why now,” she added.
She explained that it could be one of a number of reasons, such as global warming or changes in diet.
“But to suddenly have two chicks was amazing last year and to see five this year is phenomenal,” she said.
“It has been an amazing turnaround for our Chilean flamingo colony, we’re very pleased to see them doing so well.”
“And it’s always nice to have babies, let’s be honest.”