Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Flamingos

The Caribbean Flamingos were one of the many highlights of Ardastra Gardens.  Notice how brilliant the flamingos' color is? Their color comes from the carotenoids in their diet.  The garden adds carotenoid supplements to bring out their striking color.
A baby flamingo is white or gray. It takes three to five years for these unique birds to reach maturity. In the wilds, they can live to be anywhere between twenty and forty.  In captivity, if lucky, they might live to be seventy. A greater flamingo lived to the age of eighty-three in a zoo in Australia.
They are monogamous creatures. After the flamingo wedding they stay faithful to their mate.

This crew had a human 'drill sergeant' that herded them into the arena and marched them around in a circle where they would stop before each group of folks that were seated.  When they stopped in front of us we were to applaud to reinforce their behavior.


Aren't they amazing?

39 comments:

Valerie-Jael said...

The flamingos are totally gorgeous. Thanks for sharing, hugs, Valerie

Heather R. Holden said...

Wow, great photos! Those flamingos are so striking. Loved learning those facts about 'em, too--didn't know all that before!

Pat Hatt said...

Sure quite the sight indeed. I never knew they lived that long.

Anonymous said...

Wow! I've seen pink flamingos in delicate shades, but these are really full on colour. Hehe, it was thought Australian black swans were faithful to each other, until DNA tests were done.

CJ Kennedy said...

Quite beautiful. I like the second photo with the two flamingos facing each other. Their heads together look like a heart. So appropriate for Valentine's Day.

JFM said...

Gorgeous they are!!!
Your photos are stunning and I love to hear that they mate forever.
Fantastic photos and post!!!
Thank you Sandra!

Hugs 💕

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Their colors are bright. Didn't know they mated for life.

RO said...

Such brilliant colors are pretty amazing, and thanks for sharing such great history on how they get that way. How romantic that they focus on love and stay committed to one partner forever. What a precious symbol of Valentine's Day. Hugs...Super Sandra! RO

Jeanie said...

I adore flamingoes! Your photos are fabulous -- love the duo with their heart-shaped nose-to-nose. The lighting was perfect on your visit -- not too hot but bright so their colors really show. Gorgeous, Sandra. What an experience.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Striking. It's amazing how long birds can live.

R's Rue said...

Love.

Christine said...

Beautiful colour, sad they are trained for tourists

Sandra Cox said...

Glad you enjoyed them, Val.
Hugs back,

Sandra Cox said...

Striking is a purrfect word for them, Heather.

Sandra Cox said...

That surprised me too, Pat.

Sandra Cox said...

Yeah, they probably told the missus, they were going fishing since they had extra mouths to feed. Heh.

da tabbies o trout towne said...

the tabbies would have a cow if they knew how long these burdz live !!!!!!!

omerta ~~~~~

☺☺♥♥

Adam said...

Very vivid colors on them that day, sometimes they get pretty faded pink. They have fed them well

Sandra Cox said...

That was my favorite too, CJ!

Sandra Cox said...

My pleasure, Jan. Glad you enjoyed:)
Hugs back,

Sandra Cox said...

I didn't realize that either, Alex.

Sandra Cox said...

They are an inspiration to us all, aren't they, Ro?
I'm guessing that they're like Cardinals that they mate for life, but if something happens to the mate, they find another.
Hugs back,

Sandra Cox said...

I'm glad you enjoyed them, Jamie;)

Sandra Cox said...

Thanks, Jeanie. It truly was wondrous.

Sandra Cox said...

It is, Di. Especially when you consider how short life is for cats and dogs.

Birgit said...

Wow! Their colours are brilliant and so pretty. You think of them more as a pale pink not this vibrant orangy-red. You must have loved seeing these birds walk about

Sandra Cox said...

Glad you enjoyed it, Regine:)

Sandra Cox said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sandra Cox said...

Not to worry. It was no big deal at all, more like shooing chickens:) They have a really nice habitat. And if they live to seventy they're being well cared for.

Sandra Cox said...

And rightly so:)

Sandra Cox said...

They seem to take really good care of them.

Sandra Cox said...

It was very cool, Birgit:)

Magic Love Crow said...

Truly amazing, WOW! I love that they mate forever! They are a special bird! Big Hugs Sandra!

Truedessa said...

I adore birds, I think I read Flamingos are making their way back to the everglades.

Sandra Cox said...

They sure are special, Stacy.
Hugs back,

Sandra Cox said...

That's both wonderful and terrifying. Hope they stay out of the way of gators and boas.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Sandra - they are extraordinary ... and so beautiful. Cheers Hilary

Lee said...

I just love flamingos. I've never seen one (or two or more)in reality, but I think they are a stunning bird. I used always say I'd love a lead-light feature wall or part wall in a bathroom featuring flamingos.

nashvillecats2 said...

Wonderful post and photo's Sandra. I stopped at The Flamongo Hotel In Vegas a few years ago, they had flamingo's in the back garden. it was an awesome sight to see. sorry for the lateness in commenting.
Yvonne.