Flock This Way: Baby Flamingo Chicks Learn To Walk

The fluffy 2-week-old chicks are being hand-reared at the Oregon Zoo

The Oregon Zoo’s bird family was tickled pink this week as five fluffy baby flamingos learned to walk. The 2-week-old muffin-sized chicks are the first flamingos to hatch at the zoo.

“The chicks have really long legs, so they were pretty wobbly at first,” said senior flamingo keeper Barbara Suhn. “But they’re getting really good on their feet. They’ll be running around the zoo in no time.”

For video of the chicks, visit bit.ly/babyflamingos

Keepers take the fluffy chicks out of the nursery twice daily for short sunny walks and swim sessions. According to Suhn, the tiny gray birds are already full of personality and like to keep their care staff on their toes.

“The chicks love to play with each other and explore their surroundings,” Suhn said. “They’ve got so much energy — it’s really fun to watch.”

The chicks are being cared for in the zoo’s behind-the-scenes bird nursery, but visitors to the zoo might be able to catch a glimpse of the fluffy baby birds practicing their walking at the Family Farm on sunny days. When they’re big enough, they’ll join the zoo’s adult flamingos in the Africa Rainforest Aviary.

The five feathered friends are greater flamingos, and will grow to be larger than the adult lesser flamingos currently living in the aviary. As they get older they’ll lose their downy gray feathers, and will develop their signature pink flamingo coloring.

The new arrivals came to the Oregon Zoo as eggs on a recommendation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan for greater flamingos — a cooperative program among accredited zoos that helps create genetically diverse, self-sustaining populations to guarantee the long-term future of animals. These SSPs also support relevant field projects, research and public education to help prevent animal endangerment and extinction.

As part of the Metro family, the Oregon Zoo helps make greater Portland a great place to call home. Committed to conservation, the zoo is also working to save endangered California condors, Oregon silverspot and Taylor’s checkerspot butterflies, northern leopard frogs and western pond turtles. Other projects focused on saving animals from extinction include studies on polar bears, orangutans and cheetahs.

Support from the Oregon Zoo Foundation enhances and expands the zoo’s efforts in conservation, education and animal welfare. Members, donors and corporate and foundation partners help the zoo make a difference across the region and around the world.