Comparison of Hand-Reared Caribbean Flamingos and Lesser Flamingos at Seaworld California

Abstract

-SeaWorld California (SWC) has a well established and prolific Caribbean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) colony, and recently has achieved reproductive success with Lesser Flamingos (Phoeniconaias minor). In 1996, 2 Caribbean Flamingo chicks neglected by their parents were successfully hand-reared. In 1997, SWC simultaneously hand-reared 3 at-risk Caribbean Flamingos and 3 at-risk Lesser Flamingos. The latter were the first reported Lesser Flamingos successfully hand-reared in North America. Here we examine and compare incubation, food volume, hand-rearing techniques, and growth rates of the 2 species through various stages of development in the 1997 season. UNA COMPARACION ENTRE FLAMENCOS CARIBENOS Y MENORES CRIADOS A MANO Resumen.-SeaWorld California (SWC) tiene una colonia bien establecida y prolifica de flamenco caribefio (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) y recientemente ha logrado reproducir exitosamente al flamenco menor (Phoeniconaias minor). En 1996, 2 pollos que fueron descuidados por los padres fueron criados a mano con exito. En 1997, SWC cri6 a mano simultaineamente 3 flamencos caribefios de alto riesgo y 3 flamencos menores tambien de alto riesgo. Estos filtimos son los primeros registros de flamencos menores criados a mano exitosamente en norteamerica. En este trabajo examinamos y comparamos la incubaci6n, el volumen de alimento, las tecnicas de crianza y las tasas de crecimiento de las 2 especies durante varios estadios de desarrollo en la temporada de reproducci6n de 1997.