Louisville Zoo flamingo produces chicks at record-setting 60 years old
By Shaquille Lord
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LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (WLKY) — Six flamingo chicks have joined the flock at the Louisville Zoo, including two hatched by a mother who is making history.
Queen, a 60-year-old Chilean flamingo, is believed to be the oldest female flamingo to produce chicks at a zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, according to James McKinney, the Taxonomic Curator of Birds at the Louisville Zoo.
“The oldest female to produce a chick is 50 years old, so her being 10 years older by that much — and she’s produced two chicks this year — is pretty wild,” McKinney said.
Flamingos can go years without nesting, making Queen’s successful breeding season even more remarkable.
“To have a female that’s 60 years old produce fertile eggs and hatch them out — and the chicks do great — that’s pretty awesome,” McKinney said.
Queen’s two chicks are only a few weeks old. They are among six new chicks visitors can see at the zoo.
Depending on the time of day, guests may also spot the young birds walking with their handlers. The supervised outings help the chicks get the exercise they need while developing.
“We have to make sure they’re getting plenty of exercise as they’re growing because they do grow really fast,” McKinney said. “They’ll be full size by 70 to 80 days old.”
Although the chicks will quickly reach their adult size, it can take up to two years for them to develop flamingos’ signature pink coloring. Until then, the young birds will retain their gray plumage as they grow alongside the flock.
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