Keepin' it Wild Jan. - March 2020

Page 10

Flamingo Chick Hatches AT ZOO MIAMI

by Matt McHale, Breeding/ Propogation Animal Care Coordinator

For the first time in over ten years, Zoo Miami has hatched and raised a baby flamingo! This bird was very lucky and wouldn’t be here if not for the keen observation from the Florida Everglades staff and the front office staff, who helped with egg sightings. The egg this flamingo hatched from was found in the water adjacent to its nest. Flamingos build tall nest mounds shaped like cones, with a small indent where the egg sits. This flock was recently moved to its new exhibit and sometimes, disagreements over nest sites and eggs can occur, resulting in some physical aggression. During these fights, the eggs often fall out of their nests. This is how our egg found its way into the water.

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