NAVIGATION

With their extremely long legs and neck and colourful pink or red plumage these tall wading birds are striking and instantly recognizable. They are found in the tropics and sub-tropics, usually in the shallows of salt or brackish water or alkaline lakes, sometimes massed in vast flocks of up to one million birds. Despite their fragile appearance, flamingo’s occur in many parts of the world where few other animals can survive. They are frequently found in conditions of extreme salinity or alkalinity and are remarkably tolerant of changes in temperature.
Flamingo’s are specialised feeders using their unusual down-turned bill to filter tiny plants and animals from water. Their unique pink and red colouration arises from a dye extracted from their feeding on shrimps.