flamingos like to face the wind. In fact, when you see them sleeping, they tend to move back and forth because of the wind. Flamingos always stand on one leg and curl the leg under the body to keep their foot warm and to conserve their body heat. Whether the weather is cool or warm, the flamingos still curl their legs.

 

Before a flamingo takes off, they first run several steps, begin to flap their wings, and they lift up into the air. Landing is reversed. The bird touches down and runs several paces. When a flamingo is in flight, their head and neck is stretched out in front and its legs right behind it. The flight speed of a flock of flamingos can reach 50 to 60 kph (31-37mph) they are known to fly 500 to 600 km (311-373mi.) Blue-green and red algae, diatoms, larval and adult forms of small insects, crustaceans, mollusks, and small fishes are the main diet for flamingos. The shape of a flamingo’s bill determines its diet. It will either have a shallow or a deep-keeled-bill. They fight over the food they eat because of feeding grounds.

 

When flamingos are born, they are grayish white color. The chicks have straight beaks which will become curved as they mature. The adults feed them food from glands located near the digestive tracks. It takes three years for the chicks to get full coloration. Flamingos will not display or breed until they get their full pink color. Some flamingos will abandon their nests because of a low flying aircraft. They are also noisy and social birds. They take flight as they sense a sudden movement or noise. Flamingos can live up to fifty years.

 

Kandace A