the need for more fully winged flamingos and pelicans

toucanwalk

toucanwalk

Well-Known Member
I love seeing flamingos,cranes and pelicans in zoos indeed I want to become a keeper of them in the future. What I would like to see replace the open top enclosures is netted free fly avairies so these large birds can have a flap! I am sure this will make them breed better especially pelicans and ot has been proven that egg fertility goes up as a result as males balance better during mating.I know longleat safari park has its flamingos in avairies but are they fully winged does anyone know any other collections that have fully winged flamingos,cranes or pelicans?
 
I'm not sure, the only one I can think of is the aivary at Longleat, I beleive they are fully winged. Unless somebody can say otherwise.
I too would like to see that, especially Pelicans and Flamingos. Both beautiful species it would be great to see them flying about. But I think maybe for a lot of zoos it would be a big change as open-top lakes are quite recurring in zoos and parks and are quite popular.:D
 
It seems that the keeping of many large waterbirds clipped is something that has been done since they have been kept in collections and many collections still keep them clipped while many are kept in brill enclosures and still breed very well the flamingos at slimbridge WWT prove this I would just like to see more being able to have a proper flap you see them trying to so often. covering lakes with fishing net with the use of tall masts is catching on though i think
 
yes i think they do but i've never visited but a video on flamingoresources.org shows them rearing flamingo chicks from slimbridge and when they are fully grown they are full winged when put into the enclosure so hoepfully theirs are allowed to fly a bit.
 
Edinburgh also keep their Chilean flamingo, fully winged in an aviary at the entrance to the zoo.
 
Although non-pinioned birds are desirable, for Flamingoes and Pelicans covered enclosures/aviaries would never give these species real room to fly. In the wild Pelicans glide and soar high up on thermals like Birds of Prey, which Flamingoes also fly long distances like ducks or geese. To birds like this, a 'flap' represents almost nothing. But would still help with fertlity.
 
I know that flightless flamingos breed poorly, but I never heard that pelicans have problems with egg fertility.

Pelicans often develop breeding plumage in autumn. Possibly, this reversed cycle is because many pelican populations nest in tropical dry season (fish are more concentrated). Few zoos in Europe provide spacious winter quarters with nesting substrate.

Also, pelicans started nesting in some zoos when they got islands or rafts surrounded by water from all sides for security.
 
Paignton's new Marabou Stork enclosure is netted. One of the pair of storks is non-pinioned and, while there isn't room for it to really fly, I was interested to see it reach the roof of the house this week.
It's sad to see the various pinioned cranes round the zoo trying to take off.
 
yes it bothers me also seeing them run flap excitedly but fail to lift off,while it is not possible to provide room for proper flying,these runs and little lift offs would surely make these species more happy.
I am not sure if wing clipping affects pelican fertility but it surely affects them in other ways i watched one a london zoo flap for 4 minitues trying to take off very sad especially when they are usually kept in lush surroundings.It must affect wing muscles surely
 
Like Pelicans, Storks(and Cranes) in the wild also soar at high altitude using warm thermal currents. I'm afraid covered aviaries really only pay lip service to these birds' natural lives, though it is certainly an improvement on pinioning and just about all a zoo can achieve- short of letting them go which is illegal!

I believe Pelicans(or at least some species) nest in large colonies in the wild so as with Flamingoes the number kept may well have an effect on successful breeding.
 
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