By Alana Bailey

South Africa is one of the countries fortunate enough to have flamingo populations. The most famous breeding colony can be found at Kimberley’s Kamfer’s Dam. It is one of only four breeding colonies in Africa of this flamingo species. Numbers range from 20 000 to even 50 000 birds! There also is a group just outside Stellenbosch. Six different flamingo species are found worldwide.

The name flamingo comes from the Spanish word flamengo, meaning flame coloured. The colour of their feathers is determined by their diet. They eat with their beaks upside down and both genders produce a special liquid called crop milk in their digestive tract with which they feed their chicks. Flamingos are quite large, but very light in weight. Adults weigh between 1.2 and 2.7 kilograms. The reason they stand on one leg is not to rest, but to conserve body heat.

One egg is laid at a time on a nest that they build from mud. After the chicks have hatched, they join so-called nurseries organised by a few adults. The adults then guide them for kilometres on foot to fresh water. Unfortunately, the flamingos found in South Africa (Phoeniconaias minor) are an endangered species.

Photo: kyaw-tun-unsplash