In order to reproduce,
a large audience of their own kind is essential, but what is to be done when
there are not enough other flamingos to spur them on?
The idea was to install a wall of mirrors strategically positioned around
the nesting sites to create an optical illusion to fool the Caribbeans into
believing they were greater in number.
An appeal requesting any used mirrors was put out and over a couple of months
over 200 mirrors were donated to the Park. This unusual story not only captured
the public's imagination but also the attention of the Press. The Park not
only received local and national press coverage with radio and television
stations picking up the story, but also reached America and Germany.
On reflection, the mirrors seemed to have done the trick. In May 2002, the
first Caribbean egg was laid. Then three other females started to lay ~ and
then they would not stop laying!!
Over the course of three months four female Caribbean flamingos produced a
total of 17 eggs. Unfortunately, only two eggs were fertile.
There was a back up plan though. The Park's Chilean flamingo colony has been
breeding successfully since 1982. Some Chilean eggs were abandoned and put
into the incubator. Upon pipping four Chilean eggs were placed under the Caribbeans
and they have raised four orphaned chicks! The Park is hoping that next spring
the Caribbeans will finally get it right and successfully rear their own.
Who knows, suffering illusions of grandeur may not be such a bad thing after
all!
The Flamingo Park Wildlife Encounter launched in March 2002 an ambitious conservation project working closely with The Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in Gloucestershire.
There are only around 80,000 Caribbean Flamingos left in the
wild. They face many problems that include pollution, loss of habitat through
global warming and development, and sadly they are being hunted for their
beautiful feathers, for meat and simply for sport.
Flamingos like to breed in large secure colonies, but Flamingo Park only has
nine Caribbean Flamingos.
CARIBBEAN FLAMINGO
Scientific Name:
Phoenicopterus ruber ruber
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION:
West Indies & North South America
CONSERVATION STATUS:
Threatened
SUMMARY:
This sub-species is the brightest coloured of all flamingos. Males are larger
than females but otherwise have the same appearance.
Plumage is bright scarlet/pink with black primary feathers. The intensity
of the colour is affected by their diet.
In the West Indies these birds have been killed for food, for sport and for
their plumage.
Only the vigilant action of conservationists has been able to preserve a small
remnant of the large colonies that formerly nested in the Bahamas.
A Reflection on Conservation
THIS IS THE FLAMINGO CHALLENGE!
The Park is hoping to create a bit of magic ~ its all done with mirrors
