Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Flamingos: The Streets Of Dublin Project Visits Dublin Zoo

Scientific name: Phoenicopterus chilensis
IUCN status: Near threatened
Habitat: Chile, southern Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina – shallow salt water lakes, rivers, streams
Diet: Carnivore – tiny crustaceans, insects, snails and micro-organisms living in water and mud
Flamingos build cone-shaped nests of mud with a dip at the top to prevent the single egg from rolling off. Upside-down filter feeders, they use their tongue and beak to pump water and collect food, and stand on one leg to save energy and retain body heat. Parent flamingos can recognise their chicks by their call in a crowd of around 30,000 other youngsters.

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