Slimbridge WWT Slimbridge WWT
- Thread starter zoogiraffe
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The 245 strong flock of greater flamingos (the largest in Europe) has had a record year of 35 hatchings.
WWT - Wetlands for life - National WWT News
WWT - Wetlands for life - National WWT News
Another successful year for the flamingos;
The flamingo flocks at Slimbridge are having a baby boom with record numbers of young this year, thanks in part to the recent dry spell.
There are already 38 Caribbean and Greater Flamingo chicks at the centre with four more Caribbean eggs still to hatch.
In previous years the highest numbers for the two flocks has been 32 chicks, so staff at the Centre in Gloucestershire are delighted.
Mark Roberts, Slimbridge’s Aviculture Manager, said: “We are thrilled. The flamingos have had a good few years but we’re over the moon that both flocks have broken their previous records.
“The dry weather has helped them by encouraging breeding activity and also giving the chicks an easy start.
“We’re also reaping the rewards of changes we’ve made to their environment.”
A new enclosure called Flamingo Lagoon, which opened in 2012, offers visitors a fantastic view of the nesting island from a nearby sunken observatory.
A couple of years ago keepers switched to giving the flamingos river sand to make their nests rather than Gloucester clay.
Mark added: “We used to have to give them a helping hand starting their nests off with the clay but now we just put 40 tonnes of the river sand down and they build them from scratch.
“This really enriches the whole experience for them and studies have shown that river sand is the best substrate that flamingos can nest build or loaf on having fantastic healing properties for sore feet which long legged birds can be prone to”
The flamingo flocks at Slimbridge are having a baby boom with record numbers of young this year, thanks in part to the recent dry spell.
There are already 38 Caribbean and Greater Flamingo chicks at the centre with four more Caribbean eggs still to hatch.
In previous years the highest numbers for the two flocks has been 32 chicks, so staff at the Centre in Gloucestershire are delighted.
Mark Roberts, Slimbridge’s Aviculture Manager, said: “We are thrilled. The flamingos have had a good few years but we’re over the moon that both flocks have broken their previous records.
“The dry weather has helped them by encouraging breeding activity and also giving the chicks an easy start.
“We’re also reaping the rewards of changes we’ve made to their environment.”
A new enclosure called Flamingo Lagoon, which opened in 2012, offers visitors a fantastic view of the nesting island from a nearby sunken observatory.
A couple of years ago keepers switched to giving the flamingos river sand to make their nests rather than Gloucester clay.
Mark added: “We used to have to give them a helping hand starting their nests off with the clay but now we just put 40 tonnes of the river sand down and they build them from scratch.
“This really enriches the whole experience for them and studies have shown that river sand is the best substrate that flamingos can nest build or loaf on having fantastic healing properties for sore feet which long legged birds can be prone to”
Congrats to Slimbridge;
Their first African comb ducks to be hatched there in 20 years have been born, 12 of them in fact.
WWT Slimbridge - Slimbridge news
Their first African comb ducks to be hatched there in 20 years have been born, 12 of them in fact.
WWT Slimbridge - Slimbridge news
Sir Peter Scott's house to open to the public
Conservation pioneer Sir Peter Scott's Slimbridge home to open to the public - BBC News
Conservation pioneer Sir Peter Scott's Slimbridge home to open to the public - BBC News
When I heard about this on the radio this morning it sounded like an awful lot of money to restore a fairly modern house. However as the BBC story shows there is going to be a lot more to the development than that. The WWT's website shows a little plan for a new aviary, which looks huge, and an amphitheatre for education.WWT - National WWT News
It will also be good to have more hides and public access to a new duckery, for hatching and rearing ducklings and the WWT's other species too.
Alan
It will also be good to have more hides and public access to a new duckery, for hatching and rearing ducklings and the WWT's other species too.
Alan
Martin B
Well-Known Member
We were wondering this the other day when we visited WWT Llanelli just before it did actually close as a result of the dead duck found which had contracted bird flu before its death. As a member of the WWT I am slightly concerned about the situation and I a man slightly disillusioned by the lack of information given to members/visitors.
All the WWT centres have so many wild birds visiting them and mixing with the pinioned stock that there is no way that they can do anything effective to protect most of their birds.
But many of their rare and delicate birds are in aviaries, including all the duckeries and flamingo houses, the sea duck aviaries at Arundel and the off-show breeding aviaries at Slimbridge (most particularly the one for the spoon-billed sandpipers) as well as the Tropical House and the Wader Aviary at Slimbridge. I would not be surprised if some birds have been moved under cover at each centre.
But many of their rare and delicate birds are in aviaries, including all the duckeries and flamingo houses, the sea duck aviaries at Arundel and the off-show breeding aviaries at Slimbridge (most particularly the one for the spoon-billed sandpipers) as well as the Tropical House and the Wader Aviary at Slimbridge. I would not be surprised if some birds have been moved under cover at each centre.
Had a most enjoyable visit last Thursday . Bird flu restrictions are still in place - all flamingos shut in their houses , no feeding of birds , disinfectant mats at entrance as well as for the open Tropical House and Waders Aviary , the wild bird feeders were all empty ( WWT LLanelli continue to feed their wild birds though the feed station is only viewed through the cafe glass ) .
The flamingos were all active and making a lot of noise . Will be interesting to see what breeding results are like this year when they finally can be let out . No water shrew exhibit - 2 for harvest mice instead .
The wild birds were good - I listed 48 species with 7 additions to my 2017 list , taking it over 100 . I saw my first 3 summer migrants - chiff chaff , sand martin and a lovely male garganey . A single brent goose was seen with the barnacle goose flock out on the fields .
Future development plans include a Free-flight aviary for wetland birds from pelicans down to bearded tits ( they are already holding these ) and the Living Wetland Theatre ( a bird show of sorts ) , a replacement for the Holden Tower , as well as the Scott House . ( all from the latest Waterlife magazine ) .
The flamingos were all active and making a lot of noise . Will be interesting to see what breeding results are like this year when they finally can be let out . No water shrew exhibit - 2 for harvest mice instead .
The wild birds were good - I listed 48 species with 7 additions to my 2017 list , taking it over 100 . I saw my first 3 summer migrants - chiff chaff , sand martin and a lovely male garganey . A single brent goose was seen with the barnacle goose flock out on the fields .
Future development plans include a Free-flight aviary for wetland birds from pelicans down to bearded tits ( they are already holding these ) and the Living Wetland Theatre ( a bird show of sorts ) , a replacement for the Holden Tower , as well as the Scott House . ( all from the latest Waterlife magazine ) .
cuckooduck
Active Member
Nice to see both the Greater and lesser flamingos nest building, I wonder if being locked inside due to the Avian flu restrictions will affect the 2017 breeding season??
Yes , I check out the latest sightings regularly , with particular interest in the UK lists .
This pair is Bart and Ruby. They were hatched in 2010 and belong to the first group of reintroduced cranes (Great Crane Project). I think this is the fist chick that they have produced, but they have a well established territory in the southern part of Slimbridge and I think this nest is within the fox-proof fence.
I hope it does better than last year's chick in the Rushy pen. Same parents or different pair?