The flamingo colony at BIOPARC Fuengirola has welcomed five new chicks , which have begun to emerge from their parents' plumage. More chicks could be added to these first births in the coming days, as there are still eggs incubating.
The birth of these chicks marks the end of several weeks of courtship, nest building, and egg-laying. As every season, the Zoology team has prepared the colony area to replicate the conditions these birds find in their natural habitats, creating a space with mud and clay that allows them to build their characteristic nests in the form of small towers.
During incubation, the caretakers' work focuses primarily on respecting the colony's natural processes , maintaining appropriate humidity and salinity levels, and minimizing interventions in the nesting area to avoid disturbing the birds. The incubation period for the eggs is approximately one month.
The colony's newest inhabitants are easily recognizable by a characteristic that surprises those who observe them for the first time: they are born with grayish down and not with the characteristic pink tone of the adults.
Up to 48 hours to hatch
The birth of a flamingo is not a quick process. The chicks begin to break out of the shell little by little, using a small structure located in their beak, and hatching can last for about 48 hours . A considerable effort for chicks that, upon emerging from the egg, are still very weak.
During the first few days, they stay close to the nest and under the protection of their parents. One of the most striking curiosities is their diet: adult flamingos produce a highly nutritious substance popularly known as "crop milk ," which they regurgitate to feed their chicks. This is an unusual characteristic among birds and allows the young to receive the nourishment they need during their first days of life.
After spending a few days in the nest, the chicks begin to explore their surroundings. Gradually, they join the rest of the colony, and it's common for several chicks to eventually gather together, forming small "nurseries" while the adults remain nearby.
From gray to pink
Another striking transformation in these birds occurs as they grow. The grayish down of newborns gradually gives way to the pink plumage that characterizes adults. The color does not appear immediately and can take several years to fully develop.
The reason for this color lies in their diet. Flamingos incorporate into their bodies the carotenoids present in the microorganisms and small organisms they capture by filtering water. Their specialized beak is adapted precisely for this type of feeding.
Their method of reproduction is also remarkable. Flamingos are highly social birds that breed in large colonies and perform elaborate collective courtship displays before beginning to build their mud nests. Both the male and female participate in incubating the single egg that each pair typically lays.
In the coming weeks, visitors to BIOPARC Fuengirola will be able to observe the new chicks with their parents, initially still very attached to the nest and later moving around the facility and joining the groups of young that begin to form within the colony.
BIOPARC Fuengirola, a journey through the jungles of the world
BIOPARC Fuengirola is an animal park specializing in the recreation of natural habitats and the conservation of species. Visitors explore different ecosystems through a journey across the world's major tropical rainforests: equatorial Africa, Madagascar, Southeast Asia, the Indo-Pacific, and, since its latest expansion, the rainforests of Central and South America . Within this environment, breeding and management programs for various species are implemented, contributing to the conservation and understanding of biodiversity.
