Zoo Miami celebrated the birth of a Caribbean flamingo chick, a species once common in Florida's balmy climes. This hatchling, which emerged from its shell on June 19, has the zoological staff in a cautiously optimistic mood. According to a Local 10 report, the zoo has been working to hand-raise the chick at the Avian Propagation Center, closely monitoring its progress and nurturing it on a path to eventual independence.
Communications Director Ron Magill of Zoo Miami has shared details on the painstaking process. The egg was handled delicately, artificially incubated for 28 days to safeguard it from potential threats that could be lurking outdoors. The "chick’s parents are a 22-year-old female and a 10-year-old male," Magill told Local 10. The yet-unnamed chick will need to quickly be accepted into the flock once it's fully feathered and feeding on its own.
Complementing the pink parade, WSVN has reported on the new addition as well, confirming that this flamingo chick is the first of four eggs currently nestled at the facility. As is customary with flamingo offspring, the gender remains a tiny avian mystery. Zoo Miami looks forward to seeing the chick, eventually, make its debut amongst the assorted, long-legged waders that populate the zoo's enclosures. More details about the hatchling were provided in the WSVN article.
Magill explained to Local 10, "Thanks in part to Zoo Miami’s Conservation and Research Team. Caribbean flamingo has been officially recognized as a native species of Florida."
