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SF Zoo Celebrates First Flamingo Chicks in Nearly a Decade
25 Jul
Summary
- San Francisco Zoo's Chilean flamingo flock welcomed four new chicks.
- This marks the first successful hatching in nine years for the flock.
- Zoo officials attribute the success to recent habitat improvements.
The San Francisco Zoo's flock of 41 Chilean flamingos has welcomed four new chicks, marking a joyous occasion as these are the first successful hatchings in nearly a decade. This achievement is attributed to recent enhancements made to the birds' habitat.
Curator of birds, Quinn Brown, explained that installing a mesh netting enclosure allowed the flock to remain outdoors more, fostering natural behaviors conducive to breeding. This change protected them from predators and avian flu, and zookeepers also added extra dirt to assist with nest building.
The first chick hatched on July 11, with three more following by the end of that week. All chicks are reported to be healthy and feeding well. They were born white and fluffy and will gradually develop their characteristic pink coloration as they mature over the next three to five years.
