That thing they do where they all march in one direction in close formation, then change to another one, like an army on parade, is fascinating, as is all the head turning that goes with it. But I've never seen captive ones doing it, perhaps just not stimulated enough in most collections which have only small numbers?
Think Pink: Where is your favorite flamingo exhibit and what makes it so?
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That thing they do where they all march in one direction in close formation, then change to another one, like an army on parade, is fascinating, as is all the head turning that goes with it. But I've never seen captive ones doing it, perhaps just not stimulated enough in most collections which have only small numbers?
I have enjoyed watching Flamingo Land's birds swimming on a number of occasions, although I cannot recall seeing any birds swimming since the Flamingos were restricted to just one half of the lake.
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
The best i have seen is in Parque Biologico de Gaia, here in Portugal.
It´s free flight, large and filled with foliage.
http://www.zoochat.com/1865/marshland-exhibit-parque-biol-gico-de-305384/
That's rather attractive...do you have more pictures of this exhibit?
Perhaps some with flamingos in view?
This is a fun topic, I have not given alot of thought about flamingo exhibits in the past. My childhood zoo was San Diego Zoo, and the first exhibit encountered there was the flamingo exhibit (that is still the case, although the one that exists there now is less obvious to arriving visitors than the previous one). I liked it, but it always seemed like something to rush past while seeking the excitement of Horn and Hoof Mesa at the back of the zoo; I think I still associate flamingo exhibits with impatience, as if they are just filling space, even though I know better. I have just picked out some of my images of the best flamingo exhibits I have seen.
Greater and Lesser Flamingo Exhibit in African Outpost at San Diego Zoo Safari Park:
DavidBrown mentioned this exhibit in the original post of this thread and I agree completely, this is my favorite flamingo exhibit. It features a large flock, is viewed from a wooden boardwalk that crosses a large waterway surrounded by masses of papyrus, has a large variety of dry and wet spaces, and features an exotic backdrop of acacias and palms and African-inspired architecture.
Flamingo Exhibit on Kilamanjaro Safaris at Disney's Animal Kingdom:
This is not an exceptionally large exhibit, and can not be seen for more than half a minute on this ride-through attraction, but its location in the middle of this fantastic African-themed landscape is memorable. One of the multi-species savannas is adjacent to it as well as the main exhibit for African elephant, which can often be seen in the near background with no visible separation.
Flamingo Exhibit in The Edge of Africa at Busch Gardens Tampa:
This exhibit actually has a more varied groundplane of wet spaces and plantings than seen here, but this image is the best for seeing the massive mixed-species exhibit of Serengeti Plain that forms the entire background.
Flamingo Exhibit at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge:
The landscape of the four African animal savannas that surround this large African-themed hotel near the Animal Kingdom theme park is almost as masterful as those within the theme park; only one smaller exhibit is located here, and it is this one adjacent to the hotel's main swimming pool area. This view shows the waterway and viewing areas in particular, but views from the viewing areas across the exhibit are what make this a better-than-average habitat since one of the savannas is adjacent to it, providing views of the occasional eland in the near background.
Flamingo Exhibit in Lost Forest at San Diego Zoo:
This is the replacement for the entry exhibit mentioned earlier.
Caribbean Flamingo Exhibit at Zoo Miami:
This is near the entrance to the zoo and is improved by the views of the large waterway and lush backdrop that appears to be part of the exhibit.
Greater and Lesser Flamingo Exhibit in African Outpost at San Diego Zoo Safari Park:
DavidBrown mentioned this exhibit in the original post of this thread and I agree completely, this is my favorite flamingo exhibit. It features a large flock, is viewed from a wooden boardwalk that crosses a large waterway surrounded by masses of papyrus, has a large variety of dry and wet spaces, and features an exotic backdrop of acacias and palms and African-inspired architecture.
Flamingo Exhibit on Kilamanjaro Safaris at Disney's Animal Kingdom:
This is not an exceptionally large exhibit, and can not be seen for more than half a minute on this ride-through attraction, but its location in the middle of this fantastic African-themed landscape is memorable. One of the multi-species savannas is adjacent to it as well as the main exhibit for African elephant, which can often be seen in the near background with no visible separation.
Flamingo Exhibit in The Edge of Africa at Busch Gardens Tampa:
This exhibit actually has a more varied groundplane of wet spaces and plantings than seen here, but this image is the best for seeing the massive mixed-species exhibit of Serengeti Plain that forms the entire background.
Flamingo Exhibit at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge:
The landscape of the four African animal savannas that surround this large African-themed hotel near the Animal Kingdom theme park is almost as masterful as those within the theme park; only one smaller exhibit is located here, and it is this one adjacent to the hotel's main swimming pool area. This view shows the waterway and viewing areas in particular, but views from the viewing areas across the exhibit are what make this a better-than-average habitat since one of the savannas is adjacent to it, providing views of the occasional eland in the near background.
Flamingo Exhibit in Lost Forest at San Diego Zoo:
This is the replacement for the entry exhibit mentioned earlier.
Caribbean Flamingo Exhibit at Zoo Miami:
This is near the entrance to the zoo and is improved by the views of the large waterway and lush backdrop that appears to be part of the exhibit.
I've always wondered why flamingos are usually at the entrance to a zoo. It seems like those and Australian-themed areas are at the entrance. I like the flamingo exhibits in Disney's Animal Kingdom although I also don't like the idea of birds being pinioned although I'm sure it is difficult to keep them flighted. If I remember correctly, one of those exhibits is a giant hidden Mickey.
I also like Omaha's flamingos in the aviary. I'm not sure if those birds are wing-clipped or not.
I also like Omaha's flamingos in the aviary. I'm not sure if those birds are wing-clipped or not.
cleusk
Well-Known Member
I think they're placed near the entrance because the pool makes an excellent landmark. When I'm stopped by visitors to give directions to a particular exhibit that's located in Zoo North, I always tell them to cross the bridge and make a left or right at the flamingo pond, depending on where the exhibit is.
Flamingos are weird-looking and colorful (if they really are pink), they are one of the more well-known examples of an "exotic" bird... I think they make an excellent first-hand impression in a zoo that has a lot of exotic animals.
Furthermore, flamingos - as you say - definitely can be interesting to watch if you stand at their exhibit for a while, but often they don't really do much if you only watch them for a minute (and it is not far from truth that many families spend 1/4 of their time in the zoo looking at animals, 3/4 of their time eating and letting the children have fun on the playground). I think zoo guests in general often spend a bit more time as the first five or so exhibits due to excitement of finally going to the zoo. Therefore, it could be a good strategy to keep some of the more "boring" animals close to the entrance so they will actually be watched. If an average zoo guest notices flamingos right after the entrance, he may spend a minute watching them ("awesome, so these are the first of many animals I'll see today"), while if they are further into the park, he may only spend half a minute (and only because flamingos are iconic, the average guests will often ignore non-iconic birds completely).
Furthermore, flamingos - as you say - definitely can be interesting to watch if you stand at their exhibit for a while, but often they don't really do much if you only watch them for a minute (and it is not far from truth that many families spend 1/4 of their time in the zoo looking at animals, 3/4 of their time eating and letting the children have fun on the playground). I think zoo guests in general often spend a bit more time as the first five or so exhibits due to excitement of finally going to the zoo. Therefore, it could be a good strategy to keep some of the more "boring" animals close to the entrance so they will actually be watched. If an average zoo guest notices flamingos right after the entrance, he may spend a minute watching them ("awesome, so these are the first of many animals I'll see today"), while if they are further into the park, he may only spend half a minute (and only because flamingos are iconic, the average guests will often ignore non-iconic birds completely).
Thanks for the technical term. I may have seen captive birds doing this but can't remember- like many people on here I have tended to overlook them rather in zoo situations.
Yes its hard to apply because Zoos don't change exhibit space often but like others said Zoning as seen in retail can be applied effectively to zoos. Putting keystone species toward the back makes other animals be seen. An effective zoo design is a half wheel where the entrance is at the center and keystone species anchor each spoke of the wheel leading away from the entrance.
Zooplantman
Well-Known Member
Sounds like you'd need a pretty impressive tunnel to get visitors to the center from the parking lots!
The Maryland Zoo actually does have flamingos. I think they may be in an off exhibit area, but there is a flamingo lake and I have seen photos of them on flickr.
I may not be able to list the best one I have seen, but the worst one was at the Catoctin Zoo. They didn't even have water in their exhibit....
madrid has a good exhibit too it is walk through with no fences surrounding it
chrisbarela
Well-Known Member
I would imagine that, for a bird of that size, you would not be able to have a space large enough for its flight. By the time it got airborne it would be hitting a wall or ceiling.
That is very interesting that they don't breed given the numbers! At a guess l wonder if it as something to do with a unusually high number of rodents at the park? I was lat there about 5 years ago and was surprised how many rats and mice l saw.
Odense Zoo has an excellent and large free flight aviary. You can read about it in this edition of the EAZA magazine: http://www.eaza.net/News/EAZA_Magazine/EAZA NEWS Magazine/ZA77.pdf
SmallestGiraffe
Well-Known Member
Paignton's flamingo exhibit seemed like a good one in my opinion but it is at Chester that i spend the most time watching them, more the fact that they are usually quite active whenever i have seen them there. Watching them for a little while is interesting especially how they interact and when they are vocal.
BioParc Fuengirola's exhibit was a nice one too, small group but a well done enclosure in my opinion.
BioParc Fuengirola's exhibit was a nice one too, small group but a well done enclosure in my opinion.
The Greater Flamingos have started breeding over the past year and have been continuously nesting. My guesstimate is around 40 chicks have hatched since the breeding started. The Lesser Flamingos have yet to start breeding but hopefully will be stimulated by the Greaters' breeding.
Not sure if rodents were a factor, but the park did make physical changes to the enclosure, such as adding more soil/sand around the nesting areas and clearing vegetation to create more open spaces.