Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Curacao Pink Flamingos

 For Nature Notes and Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday   I am so happy Stewart has started the new World Bird Wednesday. On this post I am re-visiting Curacao and the Pink Flamingos. Did you know there are actually different species of Pink Flamingos? The Pink Flamingos I saw in Curacao were the Caribbean Flamingo and then there is the Greater Flamingo and the Chilean Flamingo.

The Curacao Pink Flamingos were found at a saltwater lake or what is called the saltpans.  I believe the Caribbean Flamingos can also be found on the southern tip of Florida. Some neat facts about the flamingo. They stand on one leg to conserve body heat. They can travel 300 hundred miles in a day to a new feeding site.




The Chilean Flamingo is considered threatened due to egg harvesting and and habitat loss. I read that the Chilean Flamingo breeds in temperate South America. But, there is a small population in Utah and California?  I guess they were a little off course or introduced to the US?




The Greater Flamingo is the largest of the flamingo family. The Greater Flamingo is found in Africa, Asia and Southern Europe. The male can stand as tall as 74 inches. The use their feet to stir up the mud and then suck up the water and filter out the shrimp and other food.

The juveniles are more of a pale grayish color. In this photo there are four adults, a juvie and way in the background a Black-necked Stilt.


Above are a few of the Caribbean Pink Flamingos and a few Egrets in the background.


It was a treat to see the wild Pink Flamingos, previously all my flamingo sightings were in zoos. I hope you enjoyed my post and thank for visiting.

To see more wonderful nature photos and watery shots please visit Nature Notes and Stewart's Wild Bird WednesdayThanks to Michelle of Nature Notes and to Stewart for starting the new Wild Bird Wednesday.

48 comments:

  1. such odd birds, but so pretty, too!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Just think how ODD these must have come off as to the first ones to see them.....
    How neat-you got to see quite a few.

    ReplyDelete
  3. A graceful, unique bird! I haven't even seen flamingos in a zoo! Great to find them in their own world! Lovely photos!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lovely shots. They always look a bit awkward, but so beautiful (and always remind me of cricket, thanks to Alice in Wonderland)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I always enjoy watching these birds...they are so interesting and I love the color!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Such unusual birds. I didn't know there was a CA population. You're right, they must of been confused with their navigation!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. They eat the eggs? I had not heard of that, but didn't know much about them..they are beautiful. It seems that so many birds are threatened by human activity..it is sad...but these are lovely..thank you Eileen..Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  8. what an amazing color!! i learned a lot about them at the cape may zoo....they have a few different species there.

    i have never seen them in the wild, that's always such a special treat!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Eileen, I didn't know that there were several varieties of Flamingos. That is so interesting...

    I love them all though.. The color is awesome. Thanks for sharing.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
  10. My favorite picture is the one where the flamingoes feathers are ruffled (2d from the bottom).

    ReplyDelete
  11. Such different birds. I guess I've never seen one. Thanks for all your info on them.

    ReplyDelete
  12. How cool to learn about the different species of flamingos! I guess it shouldn't really be a surprise to learn there's different species, but I never thought about it! I only see flamingos when I travel down to Florida, and that isn't particularly often. Thanks for sharing what you learned about these guys, and your fantastic pics!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks for sharing what you've learned about flamingos. I guess it shouldn't be a surprise that there's different species, but I never really gave it much thought before! I so rarely see them - only on the odd trip down to Florida - so they're not part of my usual birding world.

    Great pictures of them as well!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love the colour of these birds.

    ReplyDelete
  15. All my flamingo sightings are still in zoos.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Very informative post Eileen. I didn't know there were 3 kinds. I guess I asked myself that question before but was too lazy to investigate. Thank you for answering the question:) Aren't they beautiful? I saw the Chilean flamingos on Lake Titicaca near Puno. It was such a shock because I always picture them in hot locations. And they live in the US? Very cool. Thanks again for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sie sind immer modisch chic, pink ist in...:-)

    Lieben Gruß
    CL

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi there - thanks for helping to get the ball rolling on Wild Bird Wednesday.

    These birds are on my wish list for a wild bird - I saw them in a zoo in the UK and they are every bit as strange and wonderful as I thought they would be.

    Cheers - Stewart M

    ReplyDelete
  19. I have never...and may never...seen flamingos in the 'wild'. very nice!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love flamingoes. I don´t think they are beautiful except for the color. But there are something special about them.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Love the floers in your header. They remind me of ballerinas. The wild flamingos must have been a treat to see in real life. I like the second last photo ver much.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Beautiful and good looking birds, nice one Eileen.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Lovely shots Eileen and thanks for letting us know about Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday, great he is continuing the meme.

    dan

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wow....just look at all those beautiful flamingos....we only have them in zoos around here. You're lucky to be in an area that has them in the true sense of 'nature'.

    ReplyDelete
  25. They are a beautiful bird. Thanks for sharing these. I think all my sightings have been zoos, also. And, maybe Disney???

    ReplyDelete
  26. Amazing shots! I cannnot beleive how tall the greater flamingo is! I would love to see one in the wild.

    BTW, I love your current header photo. What a lovely garden!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Amazing, thanks for sharing this fantistic place, its such an amaizng place! i wanna go there 2

    ReplyDelete
  28. They are very interesting birds, I saw some in the Camargue area of France recently but your pictures are much better than mine.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Fascinating info on flamingos Eileen and your photos are great. I am used to seeing them at zoos but to see them in their own natural habitat, fantastic! Puts a whole different perspective on things.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Wow! Electric flowers and flamingos-- what a combination!

    ReplyDelete
  31. What I like about your blog is that I always get to see something really extraordinary and exotic! These are beautiful pictures. Enjoy your day! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Neat to see flamingos in their real habitat - I have just seen them in the zoo.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I have never seen a flamingo in the wild. Good on you to get so many shots of them! Thanks for broadening my flamingo knowledge. :)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Lovely to see wild flamingos. I especially like the 3rd photo with the ruffled feathers.

    ReplyDelete
  35. How wonderful to see flamingos in the wild. The Greater Flamingos look like they are wearing a fancy tutus.

    ReplyDelete
  36. they're simply amazing; beautiful water-birds

    ReplyDelete
  37. I have only seen these wonderful birds in zoos, how magical it must be to see them in the wild...lovely~

    ReplyDelete
  38. So cool! I had no idea there were different kinds... Thanks for sharing this info!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Fascinating birds!

    ReplyDelete
  40. i love flamingos, i did not know there are some in CA in the wild.

    ReplyDelete
  41. PRETTY in PINK!!

    love the second to last photo...where the flamingo's feathers are fluffing up in the breeze!!

    ReplyDelete
  42. I so want to see a flamingo in the wild! There are supposed to be some in the Everglades, but we haven't found any yet. Your pictures are wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Hi Eileen, Just fantastic to see Pink Flamingos. I saw a small flock flying in the Galveston, TX region near Houston way back in the early 1990's once. Thrilling! Have a super nice Monday tomorrow!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Lovely birds.
    They look like pink candies!

    ReplyDelete

Hello, thank you for visiting my blog. I always appreciate your comments.

BTW, Anonymous comments unless a name is included will not be published. Also, comments with links will be deleted.

Have a happy day, Eileen

Happy Monday!

Wishing everyone a great day and a ha ppy new week! "One small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day." "T...