MIAMI — A Caribbean flamingo chick hatched on June 19 at Zoo Miami, marking a hopeful step for a species deeply tied to Florida’s ecological history, zoo officials confirmed in a news release Friday.
The hatchling, whose sex has not yet been determined, is being hand-raised by the zoo’s Animal Science staff at the Avian Propagation Center.
According to Zoo Miami Communications Director Ron Magill, the egg was artificially incubated for 28 days to protect it from predators and harsh weather. He said chick’s parents are a 22-year-old female and a 10-year-old male.
Zoo officials report that the chick is feeding well and is taken on daily walks to encourage proper physical development. Three additional eggs are still being incubated.
Once the chick is fully feathered and feeding independently, Magill said it will be introduced to the flamingo flock, where zookeepers expect it to be accepted without issue.
Caribbean flamingos — also known as American flamingos —are the largest and most vibrantly colored of the flamingo species.
Found across the Caribbean, Mexico, parts of South America, and the Galapagos Islands, their pink hue comes from carotenoids in their diet of algae and aquatic invertebrates.
Hatchlings are born gray and typically don’t develop their full coloration until around age three.
Thanks in part to Zoo Miami’s Conservation and Research Team, Magill said the Caribbean flamingo has been officially recognized as a native species of Florida.
With wild sightings becoming more frequent, conservationists hope the birds will one day reestablish permanent breeding populations in the state — a sign that Everglades restoration efforts are working.
Zoo officials said the campaign to name the flamingo the official State Bird of Florida is expected to be considered by the state legislature in its upcoming session.
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