PRETTY IN PINK
As the first flock to be hand-reared in Scotland, these Chilean flamingos have settled beautifully into their new home in the Borders, securing the species’ future for generations to come, finds Rosie Morton
A flock of Chilean flamingos that now call the Borders home
It isn’t every day you see the silhouette of a Chilean flamingo on the Borders’ horizon. But thanks to Bird Gardens Scotland, these remarkable birds with their rose-tinged plumage have become residents of the village of Oxton and neighbours to our native species.
The first to hand-rear flamingos in Scotland, and one of just a handful of institutions around the world, specialist bird keepers Owen Joiner and Mark Haillay are hoping to build up a flock of 40 – the minimum required for breeding.
With nine juveniles that hatched in 2018, and two gorgeous new arrivals – three-month-old ‘flaminglings’, as they call them – Owen and Mark have been incredibly busy feeding hungry mouths.
‘It’s so time-consuming doing handfeeds every two hours for three months straight,’ says Owen. ‘It’s exhausting! So, while a lot of institutions have the capacity to hand-rear them in terms of skill set, they might not have the time.’
Hand-fed on Owen and Mark’s kitchen table, the flaminglings are fed with a specially formulated liquid which contains a delicious blend of sardines, egg yolks, water, baby porridge, and various minerals and vitamins.
The birds came from ‘late-laid’ eggs, meaning they hatched during darker autumn days. The chicks are therefore unlikely to have survived had Bird Gardens Scotland not stepped in.
‘The problem with late-laid eggs is there’s not enough Vitamin D being produced in the skin,’ explains Owen. ‘When you’ve got legs that are that delicate, the bone formation and calcium equation has got to be perfect.’
In the wild, flamingos eat algae and shrimp which contain carotenes, giving them their characteristic baby pink colour. In the care of Owen and Mark, though – along with the help of volunteers – the juveniles are fed commercially produced flamingo food which has all the goodness they need to thrive. They also devour spiders, flower heads and all manner of invertebrates they happen upon round the pond.
‘It takes them about four years to fully pink up,’ says Mark. ‘It starts off in the wing pits when they’re three or four months old, then it gradually comes into the larger feathers. One of the last things to colour is their head, and finally their eyes and legs.’
Surprisingly, these flamingos are well accustomed to the breezy climes of the Borders; in fact, as high-altitude birds they enjoy a similar environment in Chile’s mountainous areas.
‘They come from a relatively small area,’ says Mark. ‘While they’re not
“The flaminglings are fed a delicious blend of sardines, egg yolks and baby porridge
classified as endangered at the moment, their habitat is at risk, so it’s important we keep flocks in captivity so we can replenish them in the wild if need be.’
With lives spanning 60 to 70 years, these elegant birds are expected to live long, happy lives, and while their gender can be difficult to determine, each has their own personality. ‘Gladys is in charge – if he skips down to the pond, the rest follow. I say “he” as that’s the impression I get!’
After a busy day posing for photos, Gladys, Rose, Moana and the flock began settling for a well-earned nap, balancing effortlessly on one leg. With emus, ‘nene’ geese and even wallabies looking on with interest, Bird Gardens Scotland is clearly a hive of exotic activity with exciting projects ahead. birdgardensscotland.com