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Bonaire Nature & Nature Organizations: Flamingo facts
Bonaire Talk: Bonaire Nature & Nature Organizations: Flamingos, Parrots, and other birds of Bonaire: Flamingo facts
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech on Thursday, December 14, 2000 - 4:54 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

(from Wild Flamingo by Bruce McMillan)

Height - 5 to 5.5 feet tall, males taller than females
Weight - males 8 pounds; females 6.5 pounds
Wingspan - about 5 feet, males slightly more
Nests - made of mud, 6 to 18 inches high, cone-shaped with a shallow depression on top
Eggs - one per nest, 2.3 by 3.7 inches
Incubation - 28 to 32 days
Age at which a chick's bill starts to curve - about 14 days (born with straight bill)
Age at which bill is fully curved - about 40 days
Age at which chick can feed itself - 28 to 42 days
Age at first flight - 75 to 77 days

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Robert Deal on Thursday, December 14, 2000 - 5:46 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Neat facts...seeing the time it takes for the chick to develop enough to feed itself and then to fly should really drive home the need to respect the nesting areas! I hope those ATVs are staying away.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech on Friday, December 15, 2000 - 8:50 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thankfully the flamingo sanctuary is very well tucked away from any traffic. It rests really inside the salinas of the salt company. Apparantly the flamingos need lots of quiet and privacy. From the road you can only see little bits of pink in the distance without binoculars.

My understanding about how the salt process works is that some of the salt pans are used only for the early steps of the evaporation process. They are then drained off into other salt pans for more evaporation and so on. The final evaporation seems to take place in the salt pans north of the salt pier near the road. So all the tractors and trucks to move the salt never go near the flamingos at all.

Another interesting tidbit:
Much of the island is a no fly zone for airplanes and such due again to the flamingos.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ellen Muller on Thursday, February 1, 2001 - 12:43 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Picture of a juvenile flamingo taken south of the white slave huts.

juvenile flamingo

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Josie on Thursday, February 1, 2001 - 9:33 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

WONDERFUL SHOT!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kerri Freeman on Friday, February 2, 2001 - 2:59 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

'I didn't say low profile, I said no profile. This shot is 'The end"! Great Stuff, Ellen!Can I ask about the Dove photos? Curving beaks mean Insect or seed eaters? What about the very poufy (ahem) breasts? Oh,Denise,look what you did!!!Webster figured it out!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wendy S. Bolognesi on Saturday, February 17, 2001 - 12:23 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ellen,can you tell me alittle about how you got this fabulous photo?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ellen Muller on Tuesday, February 20, 2001 - 12:07 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Wendy, what specifically would you like to know?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wendy S. Bolognesi on Tuesday, February 20, 2001 - 6:58 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ellen,well for starters how far away were you?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ellen Muller on Tuesday, February 20, 2001 - 11:24 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Wendy, I was about 15 feet away from the flamingo. I was with my son, Jason, and he informed me that the young flamingos aren't as jitterish as the adults so I got fairly close. I have never been able to get that close to an adult flamingo in the wild. For every step that you take to get closer to them they seem to take 2 steps away! The juvenile flamingo was standing in a "tide pool" on the ocean side of the road leading south.

I have found that in general, juvenile birds are less afraid of people than the adults. I remember one juvenile tropical mockingbird that would come and visit us on our patio no more than two feet away from us. You could almost reach out and touch it. When it's parents would see him/her they would "dive bomb"( there is really no other way to describe it!) him/her until it flew away. They seemed to be scolding "stay away from those nasty people!".

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By sherry baker on Wednesday, February 21, 2001 - 11:25 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

ellen, the photos you posted of the bananaquit are very nice. i think i noticed that little bird in the trees at Great Escapes. i thought it was about the size a small sparrow.?

the photos -are they of the male, or do both sexes look alike? if the female is more drab looking like most species, do you have one of her? do they both nest and care for the young like alot of song birds ,or does the male leave the female to her own defenses?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ellen Muller on Thursday, February 22, 2001 - 1:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Sherry, you have the size right. Both sexes look alike and they both nest and care for their young.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By sherry baker on Thursday, February 22, 2001 - 3:22 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

thank you ellen, i truely appreciate the info. when we were on bonaire i do not know why we overlooked buying a book with the birds of the island, will do so next year for sure.

next year i will take my camera with the zoom lens and take alot of photos of birds, lizzards, and other plants and creatures there. wish i did not have to wait a year. - i know i am spoiled.

if someone ever posted some butterfies from the island. that also would be really nice.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech on Friday, February 23, 2001 - 9:56 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I can't tell you much about the butterflies. Except I do know we have Monarchs here. Caren Ekrich found a monarch caterpiller and clipped some milkweed like plants that it was eating. She gave it to my daughter to watch it turn into a chrysalis and poof a butterfly. Very cool. I've also seen a very huge moth - big brown with eye patterns on the wings, 5-6inch wing span.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Josie on Friday, February 23, 2001 - 7:43 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I saw lots of Monarchs in the Sabedeco area during our Feb. trip. Didn't notice any other types, though

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem on Saturday, February 24, 2001 - 2:06 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Interesting about the Monarchs. The only wintering
ground I have read of is in the Monterey area of Mexico.
Not any search for sources, just article(s) in Nat Geo,
etc. Interesting.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ellen Muller on Sunday, March 25, 2001 - 3:07 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I thought this history of the flamingos on Bonaire from the book "Birds of the Netherland Antilles" by Prof. Dr. K. H. Voous (pub. 1983) was very interesting.

HISTORY.- The breeding colony in the former Pekelmeer area, South Bonaire, though reported by the famous privateer captain and explorer William Dampier as early as 1681, was first fully described by Ernst Hartert from his visit in 1892. It has survived in spite of traditional raids by the islanders. Gradually Bonaireans have come to respect the Flamingos and to take pride in their unique presence. Before the Antilles International Salt Company (AISCO) started its industrial activities in 1968, the Pekelmeer colony probably housed a population of up to 2500 breeding pairs. By the absence of land-predators, egg-losses in Bonaire are usually remarkably low (I % to 20-25 %, J. Rooth, B. A. de Boer). But as else- where with Flamingos, natural and human-caused disasters have befallen the colony many times and have caused losses of up to 80 % or more. The ultimate effects of human disturbance are known to have lasted for years. The greatest human-caused tragedy known happened in 1944 when at an 'official show' from the air the colony was severely disturbed and the birds left the island, not to resume nesting untilaimost seven years later(1950). Recently, severe disturbances were caused by photographing tourists (January 1966) and by low-flying airplanes (April 1973, also 1975 and afterwards) for which Flamingos easily panic, leading to losses and breakages of eggs, trampling of young, and breaking of wings. In 1973 at least 400 eggs were thus lost and 200 young perished in a few moments (J. Rooth). Last of the great natural catastrophes known was in November and December 1966, when three times in succession at least one thousand eggs were destroyed through heavy rain storrns and flooding (Gerharts & Voous, Ardea 56 (1968). 188-192). After discussions dragging for years, an ultimately splendid cooperation of directors and managers of AISCO with a Flamingo Committee of the 'Foundation for Scientific Research in Surinam and the Netherlands Antilles' resulted in the creation of a 55 ha (120 acres) Flamingo Reserve situated amidst a 2200 ha (4800 acres) expanse of condenser pans. This Sanctuary, described by Alexander Sprunt IV of the National Audubon Society, U.S.A., as a 'biological minimum' and an 'economical maximum', comprised the traditional nest sites. Measures were taken that salinity, water level and mud consistency would stay within strict limits. Building of the dams for the Sanctuary, which expatriated the birds completely, started January 1968 and was completed April 1969. Already by the end of 1969 the Flamingos had found and accepted the place and started breeding side by side with the activities of the salt-industry. Between December 1969 and March 1970 2300 pairs nested and 1700-1800 young were reared (J. Rooth). Since then until 1981, there have been 7 rather successful breeding seasons. It has now turned out that if Flamingos have a successful breeding season twice every 6-7 years the recruitment balances the losses over these years.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris on Saturday, July 7, 2001 - 10:14 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

This young flamingo was poking around in front our chalet one day. His gray coloring indicates his youth. But under his wings he's starting to turn pink! Neat, eh?

fly

(Bob's photograph, BTW.)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hazel Scharosch on Sunday, July 8, 2001 - 12:27 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

What a cool photo!!! Thanks to Bob for taking it, and to Niki for posting it!!smile

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Kerri Freeman on Sunday, July 8, 2001 - 4:00 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Let's see,now...Bob carries the suitcases..Bob carries the gear....Bob carries the camera...Bob takes the pictures....Niki posts the pictures.....Hmmmm, what this world needs is a "Bob's R Us", or a 'Rent-a-Bob'...I think I could do the Niki part........:)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris on Sunday, July 8, 2001 - 7:43 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Kerrie you're very astute and have things figured out perfectly, Bob

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By SANDY WEISS on Friday, October 4, 2002 - 9:52 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4TH, 2002

HI THERE...IS ANYONE THERE??

I WILL BE TRAVELLING TO BONAIRE FOR 1 DAY IN NOVEMBER, AND I WOULD LIKE TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH LOTS OF FLAMINGOS. IS THAT POSSIBLE?? WHICH SITE IS BETTER TO GET THAT OPPORTUNITY, GOTOMEER OR THE FLAMINGO SANCTUARY?? THE SOUTH SIDE SEEMS LIKE I CAN VISIT ALOT MORE SUCH AS PINK BEACH, THE SLAVE HUTS AND THE SALT PIERS, RIGHT?? WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST OR IS IT UNLIKELY THAT I CAN HAVE A PERSONAL CONTACT WITH FLAMINGOS??? ALSO, HOW CLOSE CAN I GET TO THEM BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THEY'RE SHY OR NERVOUS BIRDS?? I HOPE SOMEONE CAN REPLY TO ME SOON!! THANKS AND TAKE CARE.

SANDY

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linnea Wijkhof-Wimberly on Thursday, October 10, 2002 - 6:27 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

At the salt pans the flamingos are usually farther from the road and you need a good pair of binoculars or a big number lens on your camera to catch a good view/picture. At Gotomeer or Pikelmeer, since they do not nest there, the flamingos can be seen from the road with ease. On occasion they will be very close to the road. Very rarely one or two will be on the beach at one of the resorts or in the muck pan near the harbor in Kralendijk.

Jake, Michael, or one of the other residents can confirm this or make other suggestions.

But be careful, even one day on Bonaire can addict you and you will find yourself with a case of PDB.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech on Thursday, October 10, 2002 - 8:08 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Definitely head north to Gotomeer. You can't touch the flamingos but you might be able to get within 20 feet of them. The flamingo sanctuary in the south if very far from the road and entry is strictly prohibited. It is one of the few breeding areas left in the world.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linnea Wijkhof-Wimberly on Thursday, October 10, 2002 - 9:39 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

They are also less like to spook if you stay in your car or on the other side of it from them. Definitely bring bi-noc's as they help to see them clearly even when they are fairly close. There are also endemic parrots, parakeets, and many other birds on the island. The island is not so big that you can't see most of it during one short day from a vehicle. If you don't want to go into Washington-Slaagbai park, a car will do fine, otherwise you will need something more rugged as the park roads are all dirt in various stages of repair/disrepair. Look in the 'Dining' thread for names and directions to places to eat lunch in the Rincon area. Don't be put off by mention of 'fungi' or 'funchi', it is a corn meal dish something like Italian polenta.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linnea Wijkhof-Wimberly on Thursday, October 10, 2002 - 9:47 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Reading back thru the thread, I noticed that Peekelmeer and the salt pans are pretty much the same places. I was thinking of the old salt pans near Slaagbai that are accessible from the road, I guess that may be part of Gotomeer. I forget just what is where after being off island for a while. Oldtimer's disease, I guess.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Niki Harris on Thursday, October 10, 2002 - 11:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Aw Gee, I smile nostalgically... Bob's one and only appearance on BT, and our Kerri Mango. :-)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS on Friday, October 11, 2002 - 10:22 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Linda, Speaking of birds, How is Spirit Shoo shoo ? (I think that is the name) Any chance of posting a picture now that he is older. :)

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech on Friday, October 11, 2002 - 6:24 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Spirit Shoo Shoo is recovering from molting. She shed lots of feathers from her head and I was joking she was pretended to be a bald eagle. The feathers are coming back in with more color - orangy-yellow instead of the green. I'll try to catch a picture of her tomorrow in the sunshine.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech on Friday, October 18, 2002 - 2:24 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Here is Spirit -
Spirit Shoo Shoo

I forgot until now. Sorry.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DARLENE ELLIS on Friday, October 18, 2002 - 3:50 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks for posting Spirit Shoo Shoo. She is so-oo-oo cute!!!! I can't wait to see her in person in December!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole Baker on Friday, October 18, 2002 - 7:56 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Awwwww, what a sweetie! Beautiful little bird, Linda. Thanks for letting us see an updated pic...she'll be a heartbreaker quickly! Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Snorkelguy {Scott} on Friday, October 18, 2002 - 10:12 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Is that a Lora, Parakeet, or other Linda? Very beautiful bird, but I don’t know bird ids like I do the fish.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter - NetTech on Saturday, October 19, 2002 - 11:06 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Spirit is a prikichi, also known as a Caribbean Brownthroated Parakeet. She is the smaller but much louder green bird you see on Bonaire. Prikichis are the ones most people see year round.

 


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