A little over a month ago, the laying of almost a dozen flamingo eggs began at BIOPARC Fuengirola. The end of a courtship and nesting process that, this year, began a little later than usual. Finally, the animal park welcomes the first chicks, births that currently total eleven.
Some of these little ones with grayish down are already exploring the beach of their facility and others, the newborns, still remain among the plumage of their parents.
A process that has lasted several weeks and that has been possible thanks to the work of maintenance and preparation of the beach by the Zoology team, who condition this space to simulate a brackish water quagmire. This has ensured that, during these weeks ago, the adult flamingos had enough mud and clay to build their high nests as they incubated.
A first feeding based on what is known as 'crop milk'
The hatching of these little ones can last up to 48 hours. They begin to bite the egg very little by little, until breaking it permanently, a process that causes exhaustion of the little ones due to the effort made.
Once outside, their parents will take care of their feeding. First, generating a hyperprotein substance that is commonly known as 'crop milk' and regurgitating it from this area to the little one's beak; to later continue nourishing it with a direct regurgitation of what these adults eat.
The chicks will stay in the nest for three to four days, in some cases even a week. When the time comes to leave it, they begin an exploration route through the flamingo colony.
During all this time and until reproductive maturity is reached, not only the color of its feathers will change, but also that of its legs. Its height also serves as a guide for veterinarians and keepers to suspect the bird's youth, in addition to its sex. The female is usually smaller than the males, although this is not a determining factor. To know the sex of each person, the only safe method is DNA analysis.
People who visit the Malaga conservation center during these weeks will come across more than one new chick embarking on an adventure in the space in which they live.
