Best Locations to View & Film Caribbean Flamingos In the Wild???

[Sarus Crane]

I'm saving up for a trip to see and film Caribbean Flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) in the wild. I want to be able to film them nesting in a large colony as well as foraging and flying and doing what they do in their natural habitat. I know that in Celestun, Mexico you can take boating tours to see the flamingos (via YouTube) but it it not very professional with the boat constantly moving and the noise from it. Are there ways to do independent viewing tours where you can set up a fixed tripod and film professionally? Also is Great Inagua in the Bahamas the best place to film a large colony of this species and the large creche of chicks during the breeding season? It would be amazing to film at sunset as well as during the day. This would be a multi-day vacation I'm saving up for. It'd also be fun to add Caroni Swamp in Trinidad as a side trip in the itinerary to film the Scarlet Ibises. Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I'm trying to keep things at a reasonable price! Thanks.

 

[vogelcommando]

If you are ever coming to Europe you can also view and film "wild" flamingos in Germany and the Netherlands.
In the summertime a large colony of Greater, Caribbean, Chilean and hybrid-flamingos is nesting at the Zwillbrocker Venn in Germany. Because its a protected nature reserve I think it may be difficult to get permission to film these birds.
During the winter this colony went to the Netherlands to spend the winter in the brackish water of the Grevelingen Meer were the water don't freeze and enough food ( shrimps and other crustaceans ) is avaible. Here the bird can easily been seen and photographed / filmed.
I myself go regulary to Battenoord ( an Hamlet near Nieuwe Tonge directly at the banks of the Grevelingen Meer ) and last week I was able to see no less then 72 Flamingos .
Have already posted 2 photos of these Flamingos in our Gallery which I made some years ago :

Flamingo's

• vogelcommando
• 9 Apr 2018

April 8 2018 - Battenoord

wild flamingos

• vogelcommando
• 2 Feb 2013
• 4

a small colony of wild flamingos ( I counded 36 today ) spends the winter at Lake Grevelingen...

 

[Jurek7]

Viewing them is possible in many places (see ebird), but nesting flamingos are known to be very panicky and easily abandon their colonies. So everybody keeps tourists at a big distance from the nesting colonies.

 

[Thomas]

So since American or Caribbean Flamingo are in fact, a Native species in Florida what’s a good place to seem in the wild?

 

[birdsandbats]

So since American or Caribbean Flamingo are in fact, a Native species in Florida what’s a good place to seem in the wild?

Flamingos no longer occur regularly in Florida, nowadays that are basically just vagrants that show up a few times a year. The place they most frequently show up at Everglades National Park, specifically around the Flamingo Visitor Center. The only Florida sightings in 2021 so far have been on Sugarloaf Key. The numbers of flamingoes seen in Florida increases every year though, it is likely they will return to being a normally occurring (if rare) species in the coming decades.

 

[Jana]

The flamingo colony in Zwillbrocker Venn is very easily accessible and popular family tourist spot. There is a public parking place near the viewing tower. The tower is at the bank of the pond and circa 300 meters away from the island used by gulls and flamingos for breeding. Easy to make photos or video with average optics, even the tower itseld has inbuilt binoculars. A cycling path goes along the pond with additional viewing points, fully equiped with amenities like benches or waste bins. Nearest restaurant and hotel under 1 km away.

However no pure Caribbeans is left there anymore, maybe a hybrid or two.

 

[carlos55]

Río Lagartos has a very large colony of flamingos. The breeding season is from April, May to early June. That is when to go. You must make an agreement with a boat captain so that you will be able to stay as long as you wish and get. An individual rental. If you look or speak like a gringo you will most likely be charged more. No matter, this people need the money and you will see a lot of birds, and more let’s and American crocodiles aplenty. You must pay cash, there are no ATM. Machines in Rio Lagartos. Stay in one of the local hotels and stay at least all day. Take a boat in the morning at seven AM to get the best views.