Can flamingos fly in aviaries?

[BerdNerd]

I’ve seen several European zoos in the gallery that have flamingo aviaries, where they don’t pinion the birds’ wings. I was just wondering if they could actually fly in those things. I know that flamingos need to run to take off into the air, so if a zoo had a large enough aviary, theoretically could the birds be able to fly around? However, a lot of pictures of the aviaries I saw looks like they didn’t provide an adequate amount of space for the birds to take off, so if that’s the case, what’s the point in keeping them in an aviary in the first place?

 

[Zoofan15]

I’ve seen several European zoos in the gallery that have flamingo aviaries, where they don’t pinion the birds’ wings. I was just wondering if they could actually fly in those things. I know that flamingos need to run to take off into the air, so if a zoo had a large enough aviary, theoretically could the birds be able to fly around? However, a lot of pictures of the aviaries I saw looks like they didn’t provide an adequate amount of space for the birds to take off, so if that’s the case, what’s the point in keeping them in an aviary in the first place?

I’ve had a search online and can’t find a single photo (or video) of a flamingo flying in a zoo (aviary). It’d be pretty cool to see one doing laps of the exhibit; so if it were indeed feasible, I’d expect to see proof.

I’d imagine the aviary is primarily a way to keep them contained in an exhibit that gives the illusion of open space (what many exhibits aim to do); while avoiding the potentially controversial issue of pinioning their wings.

 

[The Cassowary]

I’ve had a search online and can’t find a single photo (or video) of a flamingo flying in a zoo (aviary). It’d be pretty cool to see one doing laps of the exhibit; so if it were indeed feasible, I’d expect to see proof.

I’d imagine the aviary is primarily a way to keep them contained in an exhibit that gives the illusion of open space (what many exhibits aim to do); while avoiding the potentially controversial issue of pinioning their wings.

It also allows other birds to be exhibited alongside the flamingos without being pinioned or having their wings clipped.

 

[Great Argus]

Flamingos are generally safer pinioned in aviaries to avoid injury or death by hitting exhibit furniture or sides. Flamingos are gangly and need a good bit of room for takeoff and successful flying, particularly the three Phoenicopterus.

 

[jwer]

There is a theory that pinioned flamingo’s have a harder time mating, because they use their wings to keep balance. Afaik the studbook recommendation is therefore to not pinion (or clip) their wings.

 

[Jana]

Flamingos are excellent endurance flyers, average travel speed is over 50 km/hour and GPS tracking has detected one-night trips of over 1000 km, for example from Spain to Senegal or from South Africa to NW Madagascar. Flamingos often nest in colonies that are in safe place, but very far from good food source, for example adults from Bonaire island colony travel every day to Venezuela coast to feed (+100km away) and back to incubate eggs or feed their chicks. Flamingos spend +20% of their life in air flying. However, they need first to run straight to gain speed to lift into the air and their maneuvrability is pretty bad.

Zoo flamingo aviaries don´t intend to enable the birds to fly at speed of +50km. Aviaries allow flamingos to be exhibited without need to mutilate (pinion) the birds. Not-pinioned birds are far better at mating and displaying. Aviaries protect birds from aerial danger like gulls, egrets, crows, hawks or owls who often decimate zoo-bred eggs or chicks. Not-pinioned birds have better insulation (important in freezing weather) and are less prone to injuries.

Few years back, I have posted here in forum my small shabby statistics of flamingos kept in zoos in CZ and SK zoos covering 1-2 decades. It showed considerably lower mortality of adult birds kept in aviaries and also much higher chick production (measured at chicks surviving 3 months) in aviaries compared to similar-sized flocks kept in traditional pens. Sample size was low through.

 

[Jurek7]

I think flamingos can fly few meters or so, or more like glide.

However, the main positives of aviary is, as others said: not harming the birds, better mating and better breeding success (a large proportion of pinioned male flamingos cannot balance on top of a female, and most eggs are infertile), less tripping over and injury, and lower predation from urban foxes etc.

Also, it seems that pinioning has subtler negative effects. I often notice than full winged birds of various species are generally much more active, even not flying. Pinioned birds are more lethargic, like constantly in low pain or not feeling very well.

 

[Jana]

I think flamingos can fly few meters or so, or more like glide.

Miyazaki Zoo in Japan has constructed a special flamingo aviary decades ago, to run a show that includes a few seconds of flamingos lifting off the ground. Still popular today but not enough to find any other zoo trying to imitate it. That is the only existing such program, but I don´t have much knowledge of birds shows in Asia.

In my opinion, if any zoo built a nice larger longer aviary with more landscaping, giving the birds a higher slope at the start so they can lift few meters higher above the water surface, it could create a little more impressive show. But still, you won´t ever see a flamingo doing rounds in a zoo aviary.

 

[Jurek7]

Unfortunately aviaries in European and U.S. zoos are usually much smaller than this one. They also don't think much about giving birds free flying space.

It looks like the viewing amphitheater is inside the aviary.

 

[Zoo Birding]

So, is it the consensus that flamingos kept in free-flight aviaries are still pinioned or wing-clipped? I ask this because the new Sacramento-Elk Grove Zoo going to have a flamingo aviary and it's an enclosed, walkthrough aviary. On my most recent visit today, I noticed that the three young flamingos aren't pinioned and have their flight feathers still in tact. This has led me to believe that they're being saved for when the new zoo and their aviary is constructed and they are able to fly.

I'm also hearing from my sources who either have kept flamingos or who work in zoos that flamingos, when given the chance to fly, oftentimes run into or worse yet kill themselves by colliding into the aviary mesh.

 

[Great Argus]

I ask this because the new Sacramento-Elk Grove Zoo going to have a flamingo aviary and it's an enclosed, walkthrough aviary. On my most recent visit today, I noticed that the three young flamingos aren't pinioned and have their flight feathers still in tact. This has led me to believe that they're being saved for when the new zoo and their aviary is constructed and they are able to fly.

Sacramento has maintained their flock full-winged for many years. Maybe they had to change that with the new accommodations, but either way I'm not surprised their chicks aren't pinioned.

 

[Zoofan15]

So, is it the consensus that flamingos kept in free-flight aviaries are still pinioned or wing-clipped? I ask this because the new Sacramento-Elk Grove Zoo going to have a flamingo aviary and it's an enclosed, walkthrough aviary. On my most recent visit today, I noticed that the three young flamingos aren't pinioned and have their flight feathers still in tact. This has led me to believe that they're being saved for when the new zoo and their aviary is constructed and they are able to fly.

I'm also hearing from my sources who either have kept flamingos or who work in zoos that flamingos, when given the chance to fly, oftentimes run into or worse yet kill themselves by colliding into the aviary mesh.

Auckland Zoo originally planned to build an aviary for their flock of Greater flamingo, but have since decided to continue to house them in this open air exhibit:



The founders (imported from the UK) were pinioned; but the Auckland bred chicks (hatched from 2014 onwards) aren’t. In line with some of the comments above, the non-pinioned chicks have been much more successful in reproducing than the pinioned founders (many of which have never bred).

 

[Thomas]

There is also Houston Zoo's Flamingos being housed in an aviary in their new World of Birds.

 

[Zoo Birding]

Sacramento has maintained their flock full-winged for many years. Maybe they had to change that with the new accommodations, but either way I'm not surprised their chicks aren't pinioned.

Since becoming a zoo nerd did I really start paying attention to the wings of large birds kept in outdoor exhibits and see if they’re clipped or pinioned.

Most of the adults in the flock are pinioned. I snapped photos from previous trips and from my current trip showing this and the young having in tact wings and flight feathers.

After talking to a friend of mine who keeps Chilean flamingos and talking to zoo curators and other zoo people, it seems the safest practice for flamingos in aviaries are to keep their wings trimmed since they are known to fly into and severely hurt themselves within an aviary.

 

[Zoo Birding]

There is also Houston Zoo's Flamingos being housed in an aviary in their new World of Birds.

My question for their flock are: are they pinioned or clipped? And how will future young be managed going forward now that they are in a walkthrough aviary?

 

[Thomas]

My question for their flock are: are they pinioned or clipped? And how will future young be managed going forward now that they are in a walkthrough aviary?

According to this article,

https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2024/08/28/houston-zoo-birds-world-exhibit-open

The Houston Zoo's Chilean flamingos no longer have their wings clipped as they have been moved to a new, netted aviary within the South American Wetlands exhibit of the new Birds of the World exhibit. This new aviary allows the flamingos to fly freely within a contained, enclosed space. The netting also helps prevent wild ducks from entering the habitat, which was a previous issue.

 

[Zoo Birding]

According to this article,

https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2024/08/28/houston-zoo-birds-world-exhibit-open

The Houston Zoo's Chilean flamingos no longer have their wings clipped as they have been moved to a new, netted aviary within the South American Wetlands exhibit of the new Birds of the World exhibit. This new aviary allows the flamingos to fly freely within a contained, enclosed space. The netting also helps prevent wild ducks from entering the habitat, which was a previous issue.

Thank you for this citation.

I’ll need to visit so I can see this in person. I hope they won’t injure themselves in this new aviary.

 

[Toki]

Neo Park Okinawa in Okinawa, Japan has a large aviary with Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber roseus). It states on the website that this is the only zoo in Japan where flamingos can fly.
ヨーロッパフラミンゴ | 名護市 ネオパークオキナワ

Here is a video by a visitor:
https://x.com/heroe45949550/status/1322132363879411716

 

[Batto]

However, the main positives of aviary is, as others said: not harming the birds, better mating and better breeding success (a large proportion of pinioned male flamingos cannot balance on top of a female, and most eggs are infertile), less tripping over and injury, and lower predation from urban foxes etc.

... as well as decreasing the likeliness of disease infection (in particular Avian influenza) from wild birds, which is becoming a periodically reoccuring issue in more and more zoos.

 

[BlobfishBoy]

Neo Park Okinawa in Okinawa, Japan has a large aviary with Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber roseus). It states on the website that this is the only zoo in Japan where flamingos can fly.
ヨーロッパフラミンゴ | 名護市 ネオパークオキナワ

Here is a video by a visitor:
https://x.com/heroe45949550/status/1322132363879411716

Their claim is false as seen in the link sent by @Jana although that doesn't take away from the impressiveness of the aviary. I'd personally love to see more flamingo aviaries that allow for flight in the US.