Driest spring delays flamingo breeding season at Blackpool Zoo

After the most delayed breeding season on record, the Caribbean flamingos have finally started to build their nests thanks to the much-needed rain.

Despite a special delivery of four tonnes of sand to Flamingo Lake earlier this year the flamingos refused to begin construction as the conditions were not right.

Their nests, which are mounds made of sand and water, need to be located in a position that the flamingos can be sure will stay wet as they continually build them throughout the incubation period.

When the heavens finally opened, they wasted no time in getting to work on the next generation of fluffy flamingo chicks. 

Nest building began and once the initial mounds are complete the flamingos will become very protective of their particular area.

Then comes a short stand-off as they wait for the most confident flamingo to lay and, after this, everyone will follow suit before building the nest upwards to protect and incubate the eggs.

With a long and successful history of breeding the birds, the rain and subsequent nest building was a sight to behold for keepers at the zoo.

Luke Forster, Deputy Section Head at Blackpool Zoo, said, “Caribbean flamingos are very social birds that are known for their elaborate nesting behaviours.

“They build their nests in large colonies, carefully shaping the mounds to protect their eggs, which are incubated by both and male and female birds.

“Both genders also produce crop milk to feed the chicks once they have hatched and, in some cases, pairs of the same sex will take on the responsibility of incubating and raising a chick, even if the egg isn’t theirs!”

Visitors can now watch as the nests take shape before the eggs, which are incubated for between 26-31 days, are laid in the coming weeks.

Chicks hatch with grey-white down and a straight beak, developing their pink colour over a few years as they consume carotenoid-rich foods.