Flamingo: The Pink Bird of Blue Lake
Flamingo: The Pink Bird of Blue Lake
The sight of flocks of fiery red or bright pink birds grazing on the water on the shores of a calm blue lake caught your eye while casually browsing the internet world. After being fascinated by the magical appearance of this bird called flamingo, it will not be surprising if you go to an island in the Caribbean or South America to see this water creature. Of course, not only the beauty, but also the lifestyle of flamingos can make you interested in them. Today, there are many discussions about this animal. Flamingo's fiery red skin color, curved and thick lips, narrow throat, unusually long legs have given it uniqueness in the crowd of thousands of aquatic animals. This bird, which belongs to the heron, spoonbill, and crane family, can be found living in fresh or brackish waters from the Caribbean to South America, Africa to the Middle East. They live in coastal lagoons, shallow lakes and other wetlands. Flamingos are the first choice for living in warm tropical environments.
The most talked about feature of the flamingo is its color. The pink feathers covering the body make the bird so attractive. Although flamingos are famous for their pink feathers, the feathers are not always pink! Can also be white, orange or red. The color of the feathers depends on what food a flamingo is eating and what pigment that food contains. Babies are not born with a flamingo pink color. It takes two to three years for them to turn pink.
Algae and shrimp are usually included in the flamingo's regular diet. They are rich in beta carotene. This large amount of beta carotene makes their body red or pink. Tomatoes are red and carrots are orange because of beta-carotene!
If flamingos stop eating food containing beta-carotene, their pink feathers fall off. New pink feathers are no longer produced. Then their body looks white or gray. What food the flamingo is eating depends on its beak. For example, Andean flamingos feed on algae, they can move their beaks deep into the mud. On the other hand, the Greater, Chilean, and Puna flamingos are content to eat whatever is found in shallow water. They eat fish, insects, invertebrates.
What food a flamingo is eating depends on its beak. For example, Andean flamingos feed on algae, which they can swallow deep into their beaks. On the other hand, the Greater, Chilean, and Puna flamingos are content to eat whatever they can find in shallow water. They eat fish, insects, invertebrates.
The beak of the flamingo is very spectacular, just by looking at its appearance. Black colored lips are very thick and strong. These characteristic beaks make their feeding habits fascinating.
An adult flamingo is 3-4 feet tall. Weight is 9 pounds which is about the weight of your pet cat. The greater flamingo is the tallest, about five feet. And the Lesser Flamingo is the smallest, about 3 feet. Flamingos are always seen standing on one leg. They sleep like this! While standing on one foot to conserve body temperature, the other foot rests in feathered body warmth. Sometimes he stands by changing his legs. Flamingos have knees, slightly curved black areas on the top of their legs. They can swim, run, and even fly.
Flamingos are always seen standing on one leg. They sleep like this! When the flamingo stands on one leg to conserve body heat, its other leg is covered in feathered body warmth. Sometimes he stands by changing his legs. Flamingos have knees, slightly curved black areas on the top of their legs. They can crawl, run, and even fly.
Flamingos live in groups. A group or swarm is called a colony. A colony can contain thousands of birds. Social living in colonies gives them numerous advantages. From reproduction to defense against predators—the flamingo's colony life comes in handy in every way.
The best weapon against any potential predator is their colony. Colony members swarm and chase after a predator. That is why a large flock of flamingos can be understood by a single but powerful predator. Their colonies also prevent flamingo eggs from being stolen or destroyed during the breeding season. Everyone takes turns guarding everyone's eggs. Maybe the neighboring flamingo guarded one day!
The best weapon against any potential predator is their colony. Colony members chase after a predator in flocks. That's why a large flock of flamingos can be understood as a single but powerful predator. Their colonies are also prevented from being stolen or destroyed by flamingos during the breeding season. Everyone takes turns guarding everyone's eggs. Maybe the neighboring flamingo guarded one day!
Flamingos are monogamous. Lives with one partner, hatches eggs, gives birth to young. The entire colony completes the reproductive function at the same time. Eggs are laid at the same time, all hatch at the same time. It helps them to look after and nurture their children. The entire colony works together to protect the eggs and young from predators.
The flamingo family builds mud mound-like homes on the shores of lakes or lagoons. The mother flamingo lays her eggs in a shallow hole at the top of the mound. Gives it for thirty consecutive days. Then the egg hatches and the baby comes out. Flamingos lay only one egg at a time. Baby flamingos are born with straight and short beaks. Lips become large and curved after puberty. After growing up, the lips become curved while searching for food in the water. Newborn flamingos have soft white feathers. Both parents take care of the baby. Both feed the baby with a liquid produced in their digestive system.
After five days, the baby is strong enough to walk on its own. The parents then release the baby to a small group of baby flamingos. The baby moves around with the group and returns to the parents when it is time to eat. Parents can recognize a baby flamingo by its squeaking sound. Every baby's voice is different. Like people! After three weeks, the slightly hardened flamingo gathers its own food. After two to three years, young flamingos live independently.
Flamingos are calm, cool-tempered animals. But these innocent flamingos become very violent under certain circumstances. They fight over food or find mates during the breeding season.
Flamingos can easily become prey for exotic predators. They live 20-30 years in the wild if not preyed upon by eagles, wild dogs or humans. They move from one place to another in search of food, comfortable shelter and breeding facilities. 35 km per hour. Can run fast.
There are a total of six species of flamingos in the world. The Andean Flamingo species is the rarest and most endangered. Lesser, Puna, Chilean three flamingo species are in danger of extinction. Flamingos are at risk due to water pollution, lead poisoning, nest destruction, egg theft, human hunting and environmental degradation from tourist over-traffic.
The American flamingo lives in the West Indies, the Yucatan Peninsula, South America and the Galapagos Islands. Puna and Andean flamingos are found in Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Argentina and the highlands of the Andes. The Chilean flamingo lives in the warm regions of South America. Coastal areas of Africa, Southern Europe, Southwest Asia are safe habitats of the Greater Flamingo. And the Lesser Flamingo lives in Africa and India.
The American flamingo lives in the West Indies, the Yucatan Peninsula, South America, and the Galapagos Islands. The Puna and Andean flamingos are found in the mountainous regions of the Andes in Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina. The Chilean flamingo lives in the warm regions of South America. Coastal areas of Africa, Southern Europe, Southwest Asia are safe habitats of the Greater Flamingo. And the Lesser Flamingo lives in Africa and India.
Flamingos in the Bahamas. Plastic flamingos are used to decorate gardens in America. They are seen in zoos for their brightly colored feathers and beauty. A flamingo can live up to 50-70 years in its domestic environment in a zoo. The first flamingos hatched in the zoo's artificial environment were of the Chilean variety. The zoo is from Switzerland, called Basel Zoo. The oldest living flamingo in the world was 83 years old!
You will be surprised to know that flamingos can survive even in extreme adverse conditions. For example, the Lesser Flamingo lives in Lake Natron in Northern Tanzania with a temperature of 60 degrees Celsius and skin-scalding water. Not only does it live, it also breeds. Avis argentinas in Mar Chiquita, the largest salt lake in South America, is going to be the largest national park in Argentina with international cooperation. Three endangered species of flamingo live here.
Some of the most beautiful birds in the world live in their own habitat, in their natural environment. Such a beautiful animal species should not become endangered or become extinct and create a disaster in the environment or there should be no deficiency in the immense beauty of nature.
